Stara Zagora district
The central geographical location of the region of Stara Zagora is a prerequisite for its transformation into a crossroads through which important transport arteries pass between the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of Bulgaria.
Kazanlak is a town in central Bulgaria and the administrative center of Kazanlak Municipality in Stara Zagora Province. The municipality covers an area of 634.4 sq km. As of 2025, the population of Kazanlak Municipality is approximately 66,169, while the town of Kazanlak has around 42,208 residents.
Kazanlak is the heart of the Rose Valley. The town is home to one of Bulgaria's most significant Thracian tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Rose Museum. Nearby are the ancient city of Sevtopolis and the Valley of the Thracian Kings.
Kazanlak Municipality is one of the leading economic centers in Stara Zagora Province. In 2022, enterprises in the municipality reported total revenues exceeding BGN 1.8 billion. The local economy is strongly represented by mechanical engineering and the production of metals and metal products – the value of output for metals and metal products is approximately BGN 525 million, while machinery and equipment account for about BGN 288 million.
One of the leading companies is M+S Hydraulic AD, which announced in 2025 an investment of approximately BGN 45 million in a new plant for the production of hydraulic motors.
Agriculture is also significant for the region, with favorable soil and climate conditions for cultivating oil-bearing roses, mint, lavender, fruit trees, and fodder crops. Tourism is thriving due to the unique archaeological monuments, the natural beauty of the Central Balkan Reserve, and the traditional Rose Festival.
Chirpan is a town in Central Bulgaria, in the Stara Zagora Province, located in the heart of Thrace. It is the third-largest town in the province after Stara Zagora and Kazanlak. Chirpan is known for its knives and as the birthplace of the poet and revolutionary Peyo Yavorov. In the past (until 1989), the town had developed industries in machinery, textiles, and wine production. The machinery industry was represented by factories such as “Future” (producing hydraulic systems) and “Angel Peev” (which produced machines for the food industry).
The textile industry was represented by the factory “23 September” (now called “Charita”) producing clothing, with most of its products exported abroad. “Vinprom Chirpan” was the largest producer of sparkling wine on the Balkan Peninsula under the brand “Iskra,” with the so-called “Red Iskra” being particularly popular. In the 1990s, Vinprom Chirpan also produced the brandy “Chirpan Grapa.” The municipality is also home to the first poultry farm of the “Gradus” group. After 2000, small wineries have also developed in the area.
In recent years, in the village of Mogilovo (Chirpan Municipality), the “Midalidare Estate” winery has been built with its own vineyards, offering wine tourism programs. The town has also been developing through the modernization of local administration and services – Chirpan Municipality was awarded the national “Smart City” recognition in the “Mayor of the Year 2025” contest.
Pavel Banya is a town in central southern Bulgaria, located in the Stara Zagora Province, near the towns of Kalofer and Kazanlak. The town is the administrative center of the Pavel Banya Municipality. The main sectors of Pavel Banya’s economy are balneological tourism and the cultivation and processing of essential oil crops (lavender, Kazanlak rose, garden sage). The town is recognized as a national balneological center and is known for its healing mineral waters.
Within the territory of Pavel Banya, there are nine natural hydrothermal springs of similar chemical composition, with a combined flow rate of approximately 950 liters per minute. The waters are low in mineral content and slightly alkaline, with one source having measured values of up to 61 °C, mineralization around 0.62 g/l (≈ 620 mg/l), and a pH of 7.5–7.9. The mineral waters are bicarbonate-sodium type, containing radon, silicon, and fluorine, and are suitable for treating degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system.
Regarding the production of rose oil and essential oil crops, the Pavel Banya Municipality is among the leading areas. For example, the municipal territory includes numerous distilleries and large areas of oil-bearing roses.
Galabovo is a town in Southern Bulgaria, situated in the Stara Zagora Province, and serves as the administrative centre of Galabovo Municipality. It lies strategically at the crossroads of the roads Galabovo–Radnevo (to the northeast), Galabovo–Simeonovgrad (to the southwest) and Galabovo–Opan–Stara Zagora (to the northwest).
The economy of Galabovo and its region is largely shaped by the proximity to lignite coal deposits, the operation of open pit mines and existing thermal power plants. Among these, the AES Galabovo thermal power plant is noteworthy, which is fully prepared for the winter season, maintaining adequate coal reserves.
In addition, the heavy industry company „Energoremont – Galabovo“ wins major contracts for the modernization of thermal power plants and mines across the country.
Radnevo is a town in Southern Bulgaria, located in the Stara Zagora Province, approximately 23 km north of the town of Galabovo. The town serves as the administrative center of Radnevo Municipality. Until 1906, the settlement was known as "Radne Mahle." By the end of 2021, the town's population was 10,597, while the total population of the municipality was around 15,760.
Radnevo Municipality is among the leading municipalities in the country in terms of socio-economic development, measured by the added value per capita — in 2023, this was reported at approximately 87,000 BGN per person. The region remains a key producer of lignite coal and electricity, with the mining and energy complex contributing significantly to the municipality's economic activity.
Radnevo also has an active cultural life — the town is the birthplace of notable figures such as the poet Geo Milev, the writers Nadezhda Dragova and Magda Petkanova, and the artist Georgi Karadzhov. Radnevo hosts traditional international events such as the International Folklore Festival for Instrumental Groups, the painting plein air "Light, Earth, People," a sculpture plein air, and sports events like the freestyle wrestling tournament "The Winged Dimo."
Opan Municipality is located in Southern Bulgaria and is one of the municipalities of Stara Zagora Province. Opan is a rural municipality with strong agricultural traditions. It is one of the smallest municipalities in Bulgaria and, as such, is highly dependent on the socio-economic environment shaped by the neighboring municipalities.
As of 2023, the population of the municipality is 2,313 people. Additional data show that the share of agriculture is significant — agricultural land accounts for about 83.6% of the territory, with predominantly chernozem-type soils.
Opan Municipality remains in the group of municipalities with a socio-economic development level considerably below the national average, but it is not among the municipalities in critical condition.
Maglizh Municipality is a traditional, small Bulgarian municipality, renowned for its rich cultural and historical heritage. It is situated in one of the most scenic mountainous regions – at the foothills of the Stara Planina and Sredna Gora mountain ranges. Within its territory are 78 registered cultural monuments of local and national significance, listed by the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage.
The municipal centre – the town of Maglizh – is an attractive destination for tourists and nature lovers. It is surrounded by picturesque landscapes and steeped in traditions and imbued with a local patriotic spirit passed down through generations. Against the backdrop of this natural beauty and historical richness, memorable landmarks include the “Big Leap” and “Small Leap” waterfalls, the Vinishki Rock, the Monument of September, the cultural landmark church “St Dimitri,” the Men’s Monastery “St Nicholas the Miracle Worker,” and more.
As of 2023, the population of the municipality is 9,659 people.
Nikolaevo Municipality covers an area of 96.5 square kilometres, which accounts for approximately 1.87% of the territory of Stara Zagora Province. It is the smallest and among the youngest municipalities in the province. The municipality borders three other municipalities: to the north and east with Gurkovo Municipality, to the west with Maglizh Municipality, and to the south with Stara Zagora Municipality.
The geographical location of the municipality is excellent – its administrative centre, the town of Nikolaevo, lies close to major transport routes: the Sofia–Burgas motorway, the Ruse–Svilengrad motorway via the “Pass of the Republic”, and the Trans-Balkan railway line. The largest enterprise in the town is the fish farming enterprise “Tundzha 73”, established in 1973, which produces stocking material, live fish, and fish products. The fish farms are located on an area covering approximately 3,200 decares.
Across the municipal territory there are numerous war memorials and commemorative plaques honouring heroic events and persons from the region:
Gurkovo is a town in Southern Bulgaria, located in Stara Zagora Province, and serves as the administrative centre of Gurkovo Municipality. As of 2023, the municipality’s population stands at 4,356 people.
The local economy is based on both industrial and agricultural activities. Among the key enterprises is Bulmetal AD, which manufactures metal cans, bottles, and other metal items.
Logging and wood processing continue to play significant roles in the municipality’s economy – some raw timber is exported, and industrial companies operate in the sector.
The favourable geographical location – with proximity to transport arteries and strategic road links – contributes to the appeal of the municipality for investment and development.
Bratya Daskalovi is a village in southern Bulgaria, administrative center of Bratya Daskalovi Municipality, Stara Zagora Province. Located in the Upper Thracian Lowland, the municipality of Bratya Daskalovi covers an area of 497.4 sq km within the territory of Stara Zagora Province. 7,093 people live in the 23 villages of the municipality. The lands of the municipality have been inhabited since ancient times.
The municipality is a typical rural area. 63% of the land resources are agricultural territories. This determines agriculture as the main sector of the local economy, with well-developed crop production. Leading industries are grain production, viticulture and fruit growing. There are favourable soil and climatic conditions for the cultivation of oil-bearing roses, lavender, and cotton. The remoteness from industrial pollutants is a good prerequisite for the production of ecologically clean agricultural products and for the development of rural tourism.
