The town of Hisarya is famous for its landmarks, beautiful nature and mineral springs. Visiting this spring of life you will certainly enjoy a delighful and amusing holiday.
Hisarya is situated in Southern Bulgaria, Plovdiv Province, in proximity to the town of Karlovo. The town is an administrative centre of Hisarya municipality.

HISTORY:
Since ancient times the life around the mineral springs has never stopped. The healing water is the cause for gatherings of many nations and civilizations leaving behind them precious examples of their material and spiritual culture.
A pre historical settlement existed here 5000-6000 B.C. Later a Thracian settlement around the mineral springs was part of the Odryssian kingdom territory. Large Thracian cult buildings near Starosel date since that period.
The town was established 17 centuries ago by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who settled here because of the invaluable mineral waters. After the conquest of Thrace Province in the year 46, a big Roman settlement had been raised around the mineral springs. In 293 the settlement was proclaimed a town by Emperor Diocletian and the town had been strengthened with massive fortress walls and realization of new buildings and  town-planning decisions.
After the Christianity was accepted as an official religion in the Roman Empire in the first decades of the 4th century B.C., Diocletianopol became an important Christian center – a bishop’s seat. So far 10 Early Christian basilicas have been excavated within and outside the fortress walls. They are indicative for the characteristics of the Early Christian architecture development. The remains of a unique by now two-aisled basilica had been discovered here. It had been built in the middle of the 5th century in the barrack complex of the ancient town. In the historical sources Diocletianopol is mentioned as the 3rd biggest town in the province of Thrace after Philippopol (Plovdiv) and Beroe (Stara Zagora).
Centuries of destruction follow. In the second half of 17th century the rebuilt on ancient and medieval ruins town is called Hisarya. In Arabic Hissar means “fortress”.

CLIMATE:
The climate is moderate continental with mild and warm winter. The average annual snow cover is 27 days. Spring comes early and is temperately warm, summer is hot with high temperatures (July and August), low humidity and rarely windy. Autumn is sunny, warm and long lasting. The average annual temperature is 11,5°C.

TOURISM FACILITIES. BEACHES:
Hisarya offers various opportunities for:
Balneological (spa) tourism – thanks to the mineral springs around Hisarya and the village of Kranovo many balneological centres and sanatoriums have been built here. Treatment of many diseases are carried out. The new hotels offer spa procedures and relaxation rooms – aromatherapy, thalassotherapy, phytotherapy, classic and Eastern massages, music therapy and others. The healing effect of the Hisarya mineral water is scientifically proven.
The beaches in Hisarya are part of local people's life for many years. Hundreds of people make for the beaches every weekend. You can choose between outdoor summer swimming pools with mineral water, or indoor pools in the hotels.
Echo and pedestrian tourism – around Hisarya and in the villages situated at the foots of Sredna Gora Mountain you will find very good conditions for short walks, marches, bird and wild life observation, as well as reserved plant species in their natural environment. The chalets are appropriate for echo seminars and “green schools”.
Rural tourism – in the small villages at the foot of Sredna Gora there are old houses, preserved traditions and rich history. The animated programmes of the Tourist  Information Centre introduces the way of living and traditions of the local people; traditional crafts studying, national dances and Bulgarian cuisine; you can also take part in the domestic work of the hosts; home-made wines tasting. 
Hunting tourism – there are excellent hunting and fishing conditions in the region – four hunting grounds with various game and dozens of clean and planted with fish dams. The Hunters Association has equipment and leaders.

LOCATION:
The resort is situated in the central part of the country, at the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountains, 360 metres altitude. The lay is formed mainly by the smooth transition of the slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain range to the Gornotrakijska lowlands. The municipality is in the south central part of the country, 40 km to the north is the city of Plovdiv.
Other towns and villages in the vicinity:
- towns: Plovdiv, Karlovo, Banya, Sopot.
- other settlements: the villages of Starosel and Staro Zhelezare, Panicheri, Krasnovo and others.

TRANSPORT:
How can you reach Hisarya?
By bus:
You can take a bus from the Central Bus Station in Sofia and the South Bus Station in Plovdiv.
By train:
You can take a train from the Central Railway Station in Plovdiv.

ATTRACTIONS:
The architecture and fortifying system of the Roman town Diocletianopol are among the most original and well preserved in Europe. In many places the fortress wall reaches 11 m height, and the south gate rises to 13 metres. A lot of buildings are concentrated in the central park of the modern town next to “Maiden’s Tears” spring.
Here is the most representative public building (residence). It is a big two-storied edifice and its rooms are vaulted with impressive arched construction. A bath complex, spread on 2000 sq.m. is situated in its immediate vicinity. The thems of Diocletianopol were used for mineral water procedures and treatment. These are one of the very few Roman therms of this kind found on the Balkan Peninsula. The original and impressive therms are preserved almost up to the roof. From within the rooms were faced with marble and the hot water was also used for heating. The complex of the impressive building in the Maiden’s Tears Park also includes the amphitheatre. It was one of the most favourite places for the people of those remote ages, who visited Diocletianopol for recreation and amusement. The amphitheatre in Diocletianopol is of a circus type, used for sport activities and animal fighting. It was built in the first half of the 4th century, when people observed the Christian cannons not to shed human blood. The arena and the service rooms are preserved in an excellent condition.
Diocletianopol's necropolises are situated outside the fortress's walls. Situated about 300 m south from the fortified town is the Roman tomb. It is preserved in original and it is open for visitors. It impresses with its long vaulted corridor and the mosaic floor of the grave chamber. All monuments of culture in Hisarya are exhibited in a beautiful and very convenient for visitors park environment.
The Camels – this is how the biggest gate of the Hisarya fortress was called. It has remarkable size and is the southern entrance to the ancient Diocletianopol. The gate's height is 13 metres.
Archaeological Museum – established by the local patriot general Todor Markov. The museum has a rich collection of archaeological and ethnographic finds. There are very well preserved examples of pre historical time; Thracian's, Roman's and Byzantine vessels, columns, marble blocks, statues. Golden, silver and bronze coins and objects, tracing the history of the peoples, which had inhabited this region.
Renal Calculus Museum Collection – includes around 10 000 concrements, thrown away during and after balneological treatment in Hisarya. Part of them had been taken out after surgery. The collection is a proof of the healing effects of Hisarya's mineral waters. It opened in 1981 and it's in “Momina banya” balneology centre. The most impressive exhibit is a 560 g stone taken out with surgery operation. 
There can be organized paint-ball games and jeep tourism in Hisarya.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES:
The hotels in Hisarya offer various opportunities for sport activities: fitness halls, swimming, table-tennis, tennis courts, etc.

RESTAURANTS AND NIGHT LIFE:
Here are some well-known restaurants:
"Loven dom" Restaurant, tel.: +359 337 655 74;
"Chinar" Restaurant-garden, tel.: +359 337 623 70;
"Central" Restaurant, tel.: +359 886 404 840; 337 65 050;
"Balkan" Restaurant, tel.: +359 337 62 118;
"Daliya" Restaurant, tel.: +359 897 959 594;
"Gaytani", tel.: +359 337 657 75;
"Caesar", tel.: +359 337 637 53.
Hisarya in night time:
"Sound Factory" Club, tel.: +359 883 307 524;
Night bar/ Piano bar in "Hisarya" Spa Hotel, tel: +359 337 62 781; +359 337 62 782;
"Coliseum" Bar.

HEALTH & BALNEOLOGY:
What is most characteristic for the town of Hisarya is the thermal deposit of 22 mineral springs located in small area. The temperature of the water varies from 37° to 52°C and has different physical and chemical characteristics and proven healing effect. The first organized balneology activities started in Hisarya. In 1882 the government of Eastern Rumelia issued “Regulations for the exploitation of the Hisarya mineral baths” and the Czech chemist Sosterzhonek made chemical analysis in the Sanitary Council's laboratory in Plovdiv of the mineral water from five Hisarya springs. That was the first chemical analysis of mineral water in Bulgaria. The mineral water is light, clear, colourless, flavourless and tasty. It is slightly mineralized, hydro-carbonate-sulphated, chlorine and sodium, fluorine-silicon, alkaline. It prevents a number of illnesses. The waters treat renal, liver and gall diseases, secretory system, liver, digestive system, pancreas, etc.
Here are some hotels offering variety of spa procedures:
“Hissar“ Spa Hotel, 4*;
”Augusta” Balneohotel, 3*;
”Astreiya“ Spa Hotel, 4*;
“Central“ Spa Club, 4*.

EXCURSIONS AND SIGHTSEEING IN THE RESORT REGION:
Hisarya is famous for its beautiful parks with about 300 plant species spreading over 100 hectares area. There you can find plant species from all around the world – magnolias, ginkgo biloba, acer, paulownia, albizia, etc. The first park around the former “Topolitsa” bath is built by the Swiss engineer Shevalias in 1892. There are beautiful parks around “Momina baya” dam, the Summer theatre, and in the Treatment and Recreation Centre of The Council of Ministers.
There are mixed broad-leaved and coniferous woods in the outskirts of Hisarya with many appropriate nooks for relaxation.
"Momina banya" mineral spring – its water's healing effect is good for renal and other diseases. This spring water has the highest radon content and temperature of 47°C, which makes it appropriate for healing renal-urological problems of the locomotory system. The water is low mineralized, colourless, flavourless and tasty.
The name of "Momina banya" is connected with a legend from the medieval period according to which the daughter of a local governor loved bathing in the spring outside the fortress's wall. But one day the town was attacked by enemies and the town's gates were closed. The governor's daughter and her girlfriends stayed in the spring. They preferred to drown themselves in the warm spring rather than get caught.
Roman tomb – the biggest and the most interesting of all tombs found so far in the region of Hisarya. The tomb is situated in about 300 metres to the south-west of the fortress's walls in the natural park of  “Slaveev dol” (Nightingale's Gorge) near “Momina salza” mineral spring. The beautiful floor mosaic is impressive resembling colourful carpet.
Thracian Cult Sanctuary in the village of Sratosel – it is situated in the central part of Hisarya municipality under the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain. Archaeological finds in the village region testify of ancient settlements 7-8 thousand years ago. In 5th c. B.C. an ancient Thracian settlement had existed here. “Chetinyova Mound” Thracian Cult Complex was opened in 2000 and it is the biggest ever found Thracian king's complex with a mausoleum. The temple is quite imposing with its remarkable stone blocks fence, two side stairs with a passageway and a finely executed façade. The internal premises is a domed room, measuring 4.8 m across, with semi-colonies and colourful ornaments. In the northern side of the building there is a  dug rock bath for production and storage of wine. It has an elliptical base and a solid plaster. During excavations inside there were found containers for wine drinking and strainers. About 30 metres south from the temple in 2000 archaeologists found a “cenotaph” - empty grave, in three separate pits around it were found a body cut in three and rich gifts – golden ring, vessels, horse-trappings, armaments.