Webcam Asenovgrad. 6th of September Street
A large spiritual center Asenovgrad is situated on the border of the Upper Thracian Lowlands and the Northern Rhodope Mountains. The town is situated on an important highway that connects Bulgaria with Greece. The area of Asenovgrad is famous for its sacral significance and protected natural areas.
In the 7th century BC, the Greek colony of Stanimaki was founded by the natives of Ebvea. Many valuable archaeological finds of Asenovgrad originate from the Hellenic period. The Romans conquered Stanimaki in 72 BC, and in the 3rd century the city was devastated and destroyed by the Goths. After 395 the town was long ruled by the Byzantine Empire.
During the Bulgarian rule the ancient Asenovgrad (Skribenzion) served as a strategic fortress on the Plovdiv road. It was captured and ravaged by the Knights of the Third and Fourth Crusades. In the 13th century the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II restored the fortress and it became the main frontier post of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
From this king came the name Asen's fortress and Asen's city - Asenovgrad.
The Turks captured the city in the 14th century. Until 1878 (Bulgaria's independence) Asenovgrad was burned three times by the Turkish authorities as a method of suppressing rebellion. Nevertheless, many ancient structures, especially religious ones, have survived.
Asenovgrad is called the "little Jerusalem". There are 11 churches, 53 chapels and 4 monasteries in and around the city which has earned the city a reputation as a spiritual center. The most famous cultural object is Bichkov Monastery (1083). It is famous not only for its history but also for the mixture of three architectural styles: Bulgarian, Byzantine and Georgian. In the monastery there are several Christian relics and historical artifacts, including the sword of Frederick Barbarossa.
Asenova Fortress is listed as a national cultural monument, and the churches of St. John (14th century), St. George, and St. Dimitar amaze with carvings and stunning murals. Several museums in Asenovgrad (Historical Museum, Paleontological Museum, Wine Museum) have remarkable expositions. The surroundings of Asenovgrad are a majestic nature, among which you can come across Christian sacred places and ancient Thracian sanctuaries.
