Discover Haskovo: City Views, Museums and Nature

Haskovo combines a distinctive urban history with museums and natural attractions in the municipality. One particularly prominent landmark is the Monument of the Holy Mother of God with the Child. To help you plan your visit, it is worth noting which attractions are in the city and which are in other places within the municipality.

The Monument of the Holy Mother of God and Views Across the City

At 32.8 metres, the Monument of the Holy Mother of God with the Child is the world’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary with the Child. The Chapel of the Nativity of the Mother of God is located at the foot of the monument. From Yamacha Hill by the monument, panoramic views extend across the entire city. The monument is free to visit year-round and accessible to visitors with disabilities.

The combination of a statue visible from afar, a chapel at its base and panoramic city views makes this place a clear landmark for a visit to Haskovo. The information about free year-round visits and accessibility applies to the monument.

Museums: Collections and Home Life

The Regional History Museum is in the central part of the city and takes visitors through prehistoric, ancient and medieval collections. Its holdings include more than 22,000 ancient and medieval coins, as well as an ethnographic collection of nearly 15,000 objects. The museum is open year-round for guided visits. Its varied collections offer insights into several eras and feature ethnographic objects alongside archaeological finds.

The Shishmanova House was built in 1854 in an architectural style characteristic of the wider Thracian region. As a house museum, it presents domestic activities from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It reopened in 2024 after restoration. Check its current visitor status before your visit.

The Kirko School is also in the city centre: this richly decorated urban residence dates from the late 19th century and was later used as a museum building. The “Haskovo Revivalists” exhibition was expanded and renovated in 2024. In Haskovo, you can encounter different forms of cultural heritage: collections at the Regional History Museum, insights into domestic activities at the Shishmanova House, and a historic residence with its own exhibition.

Historic Buildings in the City Centre

The Ivan Dimov Theatre was built in 1926 and extensively restored by the Municipality of Haskovo in 2004. The Old Clock Tower was built in the early 19th century as a symbol of the city and its economic development. The restored tower is 23 metres tall and made of cut Uzundzhovo stone.

Kenana Park: Zoo and Picnic Area

The zoo is in Kenana Park and is considered one of the oldest in Bulgaria. Families and children can see animals in a park setting. The park also has a picnic area with benches, solar lights, barbecue spots, a basketball hoop, parking spaces and waste bins. Municipal facilities may change, so check their current status before your outing if you plan to use any of them.

Natural Attractions in the Municipality

In addition to attractions in the city, the municipality offers natural sites near Garvanovo and Nova Nadezhda. The protected natural landmark Boaza near Garvanovo includes a waterfall on the Banska River. Near Nova Nadezhda, the Zlato Pole protected area preserves a wetland beside the Maritsa River. It supports threatened and protected plant and animal species. Both sites are in the municipality; they are not attractions within Haskovo city.

A Museum Near Haskovo

The Museum of Thracian Art in the Eastern Rhodopes is near Haskovo. It is open year-round except Mondays, offers guided tours and is accessible to visitors with disabilities. Check opening days and visitor arrangements before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Zornitsa, Orlovo, Momino, Nikolovo.

For the main travel overview: Haskovo.