Stamboliyski can be explored through several themes: the ancient Via Militaris crosses the municipality, while local fruit, pepper and bean varieties tell the story of growing traditions. Archaeological traces from different eras and river landscapes round out the picture. You can shape your stay around cultural history, nature or the Kurtovo Konare Festival.
Via Militaris and archaeological traces
The ancient Via Militaris, also known as the Via Diagonalis, runs through the municipality of Stamboliyski: from the land of Trivoditsi through the town of Stamboliyski towards Plovdiv. South of Trivoditsi, a preserved section is designated an immovable archaeological cultural asset of national importance. Near Novo Selo, in the Baba locality in the Besaparian Hills, a medieval fortress and settlement are registered as archaeological sites.
Another archaeological find lies in the Batalii locality near Novo Selo: burial mound No. 10, part of a necropolis of 30 similar structures. The necropolis dates to the 8th century BC; the individual mound is about 13 to 14 metres high and has a circumference of approximately 500 metres. Together, the route, the medieval structures and the burial mound represent different historical connections.
The Maritsa, Vacha and Krichim Park
The Maritsa is one of the most important waterways flowing through the territory of the municipality of Stamboliyski. In Kurtovo Konare, the state-owned Krichim Game Management Enterprise is located on the river terrace of the Vacha. The Krichim protected area within this enterprise contains a park with an extensive ornamental plant collection covering 20.6 hectares. Magnolias, Japanese cherry trees and various peony species are abundant there. Fallow deer, mouflons, wild turkeys and pheasants live in the enterprise’s territory.
Varietal traditions from Kurtovo Konare
The local history of varieties also leads to Kurtovo Konare. The “Red Kurtovka” peach was selected at Krichim Palace in the late 1930s and subsequently spread among the homes of Kurtovo Konare. Kurtovka is also a local apple variety from the village, whose name derives from Kurtovo Konare.
Kurtovska Kapia is a traditional Kapia-type pepper variety. It is suitable for open-field cultivation and fresh consumption, as well as for processing—especially roasting, pickling, and making purées and lyutenitsa. The bean variety known as “Popski bob” is grown in about ten households and has been passed down from generation to generation for at least 70 years. Since 2015, it has been offered in limited quantities at the Kurtovo Konare Festival; availability may vary.
The Kurtovo Konare Festival in September
The Kurtovo Konare Festival takes place every year in the second week of September in Kurtovo Konare. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the exact festival dates locally in advance.
Discover more destinations: Stamboliyski, Rodopi, Karlovo, Maritza, Krichim, Asenovgrad, Rhodopi Municipality, Brezovo.
Return to the regional travel overview: Plovdiv Province.
