City
Kurdjali

At the heart of the Eastern Rhodopes on the banks of ancient Arda is located Kardjali - a city with an extraordinary past and rich history. For three centuries this region was the cradle of different civilizations and cultures. Here are a meeting place, Thracians, Greeks and Romans, Slavs and Bulgars, Greeks and Latins. And now there are signs of the glorious past of the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There are numerous legends about Kardjali Ali - an ordinary man, the holy warrior, whose name is taken Kardjali. According to legend, when the Ottomans invaded the Rhodope Mountains at the time of Sultan Murad I (1360 - 1389), the troops were led by warlord Ali Kardjali. He was killed in a battle and his name was called the new settlement.

The region of Kardjali is well known for its numerous castles and temples, dating from antiquity. 15 km from the town of Kardjali do is rock city Perperikon - one of the oldest monumental megalithic monuments, all carved in the rocks. 11 km east of Kardjali, the village wide field is Monyak. Built in the XII - XIII century, it is one of the high altitudes and the largest medieval fortresses in the Rhodope Mountain area of 50 acres. One of the landmarks of Kardjali is a regional history museum. It is housed in a beautiful building built in the early 20s of the twentieth century. The museum is located in a beautiful park, which can be seen about 30 plant species unique to Bulgaria. In Kardjali is one of the most important medieval monuments - the church "St. John the Baptist" in district "Veselchane" restored in 2000 year. In the neighborhood, "Gledka" there is another monastery complex - "St. Assumption ", consisting of a church and monastery. Interest to tourists is that the church kept a piece of the cross of Christ, discovered during excavations in Perperikon in 2002. About 17 km from the town of Kardjali is the cave “Utroba”. Not far from the city there are two large dams - "Cold Well" and "Kardjali" that are preferred locations for fishing and recreation. The city and its environs there are hotels and accommodation, and various eateries.

Hours of Kardjali Historical Museum:

Year round: 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00. Rest - Monday.

Entrance fee: Adults - 3 lev, students and pensioners - 1 lev