Information
Landmark: HisaryaCity: Plovdiv
Country: Bulgaria
Continent: Europe
Hisarya, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Europe
Overview
In central Bulgaria, Hisarya-also called Hissarya-draws visitors for its mineral springs and centuries-old history, where warm, clear water still bubbles up from the earth.Let’s take a closer look at this Bulgarian town, tucked into the foothills of the Sredna Gora mountains about 40 kilometers north of Plovdiv, where roughly 8,000 people live.The climate’s mild and welcoming-warm summers, gentle winters-so visitors come all year.Hisarya is famous for its 22 mineral springs, their waters steaming between 31°C and 52°C, carrying the faint scent of stone and earth.These waters are prized for their healing effects, helping with digestive troubles, kidney and urinary issues, metabolic concerns, and aching joints or muscles.Low in minerals, they’re gentle enough to sip from a cup or soak in until your skin feels warm and loose.Hisarya’s story stretches back thousands of years, beginning with the Thracians who first settled here.In the 4th century, the Romans transformed it into a bustling spa town, naming it Diocletianopolis after Emperor Diocletian.Their towering stone walls-some soaring up to 11 meters-still encircle the heart of town, casting cool shadows on the streets below.Scattered among them lie the remains of bathhouses, tombs, and aqueducts.Even under Ottoman rule, Hisarya kept its fame as a spa destination, with the massive Roman walls and gates standing as its most iconic landmarks.Hisarya blends ancient ruins, lush parks, and soothing mineral springs into one unforgettable destination-wander through the Southern Gate, nicknamed “The Camels,” step into the Roman Baths where steam once curled into cool morning air, admire the frescoes in a centuries-old family tomb, and explore the Archaeological Museum’s trove of Thracian, Roman, and Byzantine treasures; then unwind at modern spa resorts with mineral pools, saunas, and wellness programs, stroll or cycle along trails in the Sredna Gora mountains, sip local wine in the Thracian Valley, and reach it all with an easy drive from Plovdiv or Sofia, or by train or bus from major cities.
