Asenovgrad is a town in central southern Bulgaria, part of Plovdiv Province. It is the largest town in Bulgaria that is not a province center. In 1934 it was renamed in honor of Tsar Ivan Assen II of Asenovgrad. Asenovgrad also includes the districts of Gorni Voden and Dolni Voden, which until 1986 were separate villages. According to NSI data, as of December 31, 2015 the population of the city is 49 510 people, which puts Asenovgrad on the 19th largest place in the country. Above the town are the remains of the Assen Fortress, an old fortress that was strengthened under Tsar Ivan Assen II and turned into an important military post in the defense of the southern borders of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The city is known for its many churches, monasteries and chapels and is often called Little Jerusalem. It is also known as the "City of Bridal Gowns" because of the large number of ateliers and shops for wedding dresses and accessories. The majority of Asenovgrad residents are Bulgarians, with representatives of the Turkish and Gypsy ethnic groups in the city.
History
Asenovgrad was founded by the Thracians as Stenímachos around 300–400 BC. In 72 BC the city was captured by the troops of the Roman Empire as part of the Roman expansion towards the Black Sea. After a long period of peace, the town was destroyed by the Goths in 251, but rebuilt later. In 395 the Roman Empire was divided into two parts and the city fell under Byzantine Empire control. Afterwards, the Slavic tribes flooded the region and became the majority of the population. During the wars between the Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire, the city became a major military stronghold for the Bulgarian rulers. Due to aggravation of the relationships with the Latin Empire, in 1230 Bulgarian TsarIvan Asen II strengthened the local fortress Stanimaka and for this reason the city was named after him in 1934. After Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, Roma and Turks settled in Stanimaka, and nowadays make up 15% of the municipality of Asenovgrad's population, the rest 75% being ethnic Bulgarians and 10% – unknown and others. The town was inhabited predominantly by Greeks up to the post-World War I population exchanges between Bulgaria and Greece. Bulgarians from various regions in Greece settled in Asenovgrad, while its Greek inhabitants went to Naousa and Kilkis in Macedonia. Naousa and Kilkis are currently sister towns of Asenovgrad. Tane Nikolov, revolutionary and leader of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, spent his last years in Asenovgrad and died here in 1947.
Cultural and natural sights
The city is a destination for religious and cultural tourism. Its main attractions are the monasteries St. Petka and Arapov's monastery and St. Kirik. Around the city there are 5 monasteries, 15 churches and 58 chapels, also there are historical, ethnographic and paleontological museums and 2 kilometers from the town is Asen's Fortress. Outside of the town is the 40 Springs hunting and fishing resort. The climate is very pleasant during the winter and cool in the summer, which made the city and its surroundings very attractive for tourism. The southeast portions of the city are noted for tourist destinations and their urban development, including Parakolovo and the 40 Springs complex. In the late twentieth century the town was known for one of the first Bulgarian discos, Jumbare, with 600 seats and a round dancing floor, it was completed in 1977 and was located in the Asenovec hotel complex, which is full recovering, but the disco no longer exists.
Asen's Fortress
is located from the town proper, in Rhodope mountains. The fortress has existed since the time of the Thracians, and during the Middle Ages was a main strategic point. The fortress is named after king Ivan Asen II. The church St Bogoroditsa Petrichka is the only wholly preserved building in the complex. In 1991 after a full restoration of the church, it begin to function as an orthodox temple. The fortress is among the top 100 National tourist sights of Bulgaria and it is open during the entire year to visitors. Thousands of people and tourist walk to the top daily to take photographs, to relax and to see the beautiful view.
The southern part of the town is known for its distilleries. Asenovgrad's wines are appreciated all over the country. The town is famous for its numerous shops for wedding dresses and many Bulgarians come here in order to prepare for their wedding ceremonies. Due to its specific geographical location the denizens of the town enjoy a breeze called вечерник.
