Chirpan lies in central Bulgaria, in the heart of Thrace and on the southern foothills of the Chirpan Heights. Two very different ways to explore the town’s history lead to the Peyo Yavorov House Museum and the archaeological site of Karasura: one is the birthplace of a poet, with its collections; the other is a settlement bearing traces of many centuries. Protected landscapes, monasteries and cultural events add further dimensions to the region.
Yavorov’s birthplace and the literary town
The Peyo Yavorov House Museum preserves the poet’s authentic birthplace. The complex includes a courtyard, a cultural information centre, an open-air stage and an exhibition hall. The house museum preserves original documents, photographs and objects connected with Yavorov and his era. It welcomes visitors from Bulgaria and abroad throughout the year; check the visiting arrangements before your trip.
The exhibition hall next to the house museum traces important stages in Yavorov’s life and work. These include his connections with old Chirpan, Sofia, the Misal Circle and the Macedonian revolutionary movement. The Historical Museum presents Chirpan’s past through archaeology, ethnography and history; its profile also includes the Peyo Yavorov House Museum and the Georgi Danchov–Zografa Exhibition Hall. An archive and specialist library complement the house museum.
The house museum is also a venue for cultural events. Its programme includes creative competitions, recitation and drawing contests, book launches, concerts, creative gatherings and conferences. The formats may vary. The Yavorov January Days, a festival of literature and the arts, are held every year. The 2026 programme included exhibitions, literary gatherings, book presentations, theatre and national competitions.
Karasura: the long layers of a settlement
Karasura lies six kilometres northeast of Chirpan. The remains there date back to the prehistoric 4th and 5th millennia BC. Roman-era temples were dedicated to Asclepius, Pluto and Apollo. In Late Antiquity, Karasura’s road station on Trajan’s military road developed into a major fortress between Philippopolis and Beroe.
Two large early Christian basilicas, a smaller basilica and nearby necropolises point to Karasura’s religious and spiritual importance in Late Antiquity. The settlement continued into the Middle Ages and saw its greatest development in the late 11th century, and especially in the 12th and 13th centuries. It covered an area of about 1,000 decares. This succession makes Karasura a place where very different historical periods can be traced.
Landscape, monastery and crafts
Chirpanska Koriya is a 58-hectare protected area in the Yagach locality. It preserves an old Turkey oak forest, offering a different landscape from the archaeological sites.
Near Zlata Livada, St Athanasius Monastery stands in natural surroundings on the right bank of the Stara. A spring and a rock passage leading to a hermit’s cave are part of the local pilgrimage tradition. Local tradition and research associate the monastery’s foundation with the year 344.
The National Crafts Fair in Sredno Gradishte offers hands-on demonstrations and workshops in pottery, basket weaving, embroidery, knitting, woodworking, jewellery making, saddlery and tinning. The specific selection may change from one edition to the next. The format combines demonstrations with the opportunity to learn traditional craft techniques in workshops.
Wine, art and practical information
Chirpan has a historical connection with viticulture and wine production, which flourished after the Liberation. In the same historical context, the craft declined. Chirpan celebrates its town holiday on 6 September, in connection with the Unification movement.
The Nikola Manev Art Gallery is housed in a Bulgarian National Revival-style building dating from the late 19th century. Its collection includes works by the artist and a collection of giant Brazilian cacti. The gallery is currently being renovated; check its current access status before visiting. You can visit the Ethnographic House in Spasovo by prior arrangement.
Chirpan has a railway station on the Sofia–Burgas line. The Trakia Motorway runs close to the town and is linked to it by an improved road. Check current information before travelling for specific train times and the latest traffic conditions.
Check the museum visiting arrangements and the programmes for relevant events for the dates you plan to visit.
Discover more destinations: Yavorovo, Kazanlak, Radnevo, Stara Zagora, Pavel Banya, Galabovo, Gurkovo, Maglizh.
For the regional travel overview: Stara Zagora Province.
