Near the village of Alexandrovo, about 20 kilometers east of Haskovo, lies a Thracian tomb discovered in 2000. It was built in the second half of the 4th century BC as the burial place of an unidentified, wealthy Thracian ruler. The tomb is considered one of Bulgaria’s most significant archaeological discoveries.
A Thracian tomb and its replica
The complex includes a 15-meter-long corridor, an eastern entrance, and a rectangular and a round chamber. The wall paintings are exceptionally well preserved. The round chamber contains six horizontal painted zones; most of the frescoes depict hunting scenes. This makes it possible to explore the complex not only through its function as a tomb, but also through its architecture and the imagery of its paintings.
The original tomb is not accessible to tourists. Right next to it is the Museum of Thracian Art in the Eastern Rhodopes, where visitors can see a faithful replica. Anyone interested in the tomb can explore its layout through the reconstruction, without needing access to the original.
The Alexandrovo Museum Center is listed as open year-round, but closed on Mondays. Admission is charged; guided tours and accessibility for people with disabilities are among the services offered. The center can be reached by road and public transport. Opening hours and services may change, so check the latest visitor information before your trip.
Museums and everyday history
The Regional Historical Museum of Haskovo preserves more than 120,000 movable cultural artifacts and presents permanent and themed exhibitions. Its archaeological collections include finds dating from the Neolithic to the Late Middle Ages, including an early European iron sword. More than 22,000 ancient and medieval coins offer further insight into different periods.
The ethnographic collections show another side of everyday life. They include agricultural and craft tools, copper vessels, jewelry, clothing, applied folk art, and objects from urban life. For children, the museum offers educational games and workshops, including weaving and activities featuring traditional regional costumes. As programs and themed exhibitions may change, it is advisable to check what is currently on offer before your visit.
Shishmanova House was built in 1854 in a style of late National Revival architecture characteristic of the wider Thracian region. The house features the restored exhibition “Household Activities up to the End of the 19th Century.” It reopened in 2024 following extensive renovation. Check whether the exhibition is accessible before visiting.
Kenana: park, cycle path and sports
Kenana is the largest park in Obshtina Haskovo. The predominantly wooded area covers 236.6 hectares. A 2.5-kilometer pedestrian avenue features flower beds, children’s playgrounds, and an outdoor fitness area. A cycle path runs alongside it and leads to the Sivata Voda Reservoir.
Kenana also has a zoo and sports facilities. The zoo covers 12 decares and is home to birds, mammals, rodents, and other animals. There are also eight equipped tennis courts suitable for tennis and squash. Park facilities and the animals kept at the zoo may change. If a particular facility or offering is important to your plans, check the latest information in advance.
History along an eco-trail
The King Ivan Asen II Ecopath is marked in white and green and features twelve information boards about Bulgarian history, covering topics from Khan Kubrat to Tsar Stratsimir. At the endpoint stands a monument commemorating the Bulgarian victory over Theodore Komnenos on March 9, 1230.
Haskovo is the first stop on the Ministry of Tourism’s cultural and historical route “Magic of the Eastern Rhodopes.” The route continues through Mineralni Bani, Dolni Glavanak, Mezek, Ivaylovgrad, Stranzhevo, Perperikon, Kardzhali, Tatul, Benkovski, and Zlatograd. The route itinerary may change, so check the stops before making your plans.
Getting there and planning
Haskovo’s central bus station offers direct bus connections to major cities in Bulgaria and to destinations in Turkey and Greece. Plovdiv Airport is listed as the nearest airport, about 80 kilometers from Haskovo. As bus and flight connections may change, check the latest information before departure.
Discover more destinations: Chaskowo, Nikolovo, Momino, Zornitsa, Orlovo, Simeonovgrad, Dimitrovgrad, Topolovgrad.
View the broader travel overview: Oblast Chaskowo.
