Haskovo
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| Province (oblast) |
Haskovo |
|---|---|
| Population | 96.010 (2005-12-14) |
| Altitude | 196 m |
| Postal code | 6300 |
| Area code | 038 |
| License plate province code |
X |
| Geographic coordinates |
41° 56' north, 25° 34' east |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer) |
| Mayor | Georgi Ivanov |
| Website | http://www.haskovo.bg |
Haskovo (Bulgarian: Хасково; Turkish: Hasköy) is the name of a town and administrative centre of the province of the same name in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Greece and Turkey. Its population (as of December 2005) is 96,010.
Haskovo celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1985. To mark the event, a new clock tower was erected in the centre of the town. In medieval times it was known for the nearby Uzundzhovo fair, famous in all of Bulgaria.
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[edit] History
According to the archeologists, the area of Haskovo was originally settled about seven thousand years ago. In and around Haskovo, evidence has been preserved that confirms its long history during the prehistoric, Thracian, Roman, late ancient and medieval periods.
During the First Bulgarian Empire, in the 9th century, a fortress was built in Haskovo that soon was transformed into a town. The town was located at the centre of a sizable region between the Klokotnitsa, Harmanliyska, and Maritsa rivers.
In 1395 the Eski camii (the Old Mosque) was built as the first one in the Balkans. It is interesting that its minaret is slightly inclined.
In 1782, the town was known as Marsa. Many speculate that the current name came from the Arabic word "has" (possession) and the Turkish word "köy" (village) (Turkish: Hasköy). Several historians have ascertained that the Turkish word "has" has roots to the meaning "clean". Strengthening this argument further, the town was literally called "the clean town" during the Bulgarian Revival period. The Turkish "köy" was subsequently substituted with the Bulgarian (and common Slavic) placename suffix "-ovo".
Most Bulgarians began to settle in Haskovo at the beginning of the nineteenth century. At this time, the settlement was a trading centre for merchants from Edirne, Enos, and Istanbul. Slowly, the area acquired a strong reputation for producing cotton materials, silk fabrics, and carpets.
After the liberation in 1878 Haskovo became a centre of high-quality tobacco region (Bulgaria's largest cigarette manufacturing facilities are based in the town). Nowadays there are some enterprises producing food, machinery and fabric.
Haskovo Cove in Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for the city of Haskovo.
[edit] Culture
The cultural life in the town is presented by the newly renovated Ivan Dimov Drama Theatre, the historical museum and an art gallery. The annual Colourful Thrace Sings and Dances folk festival takes place in the nearby park Kenana.
A 32-metre-high statue of the Mother of God and the Infant Jesus was erected on the Hill of Youth near Haskovo in 2003. The monument was inaugurated on 8 September on the occasion of the Nativity of Holy Virgin Mary, when the day of the town of Haskovo is celebrated. It entered the Guinness Book of Records as the highest monument to Our Lady in the world.
The town centre has recently been the subject of many investments, such that one would be hard pressed to tell the difference to Western Europe, in terms of street cafes, restaurants, shops, etc.
[edit] Sister Cities
[edit] External links
 Cities and towns in Bulgaria  |
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| Aytos | Asenovgrad | Blagoevgrad | Botevgrad | Burgas | Dimitrovgrad | Dobrich | Dupnitsa | Gabrovo | Gorna Oryahovitsa | Gotse Delchev | Harmanli | Haskovo | Karlovo | Karnobat | Kazanlak | Kardzhali | Kyustendil | Lom | Lovech | Montana | Nova Zagora | Panagyurishte | Pazardzhik | Pernik | Petrich | Pleven | Plovdiv | Razgrad | Rousse | Samokov | Sandanski | Sevlievo | Shumen | Silistra | Sliven | Smolyan | Sofia | Stara Zagora | Svishtov | Targovishte | Troyan | Varna | Veliko Tarnovo | Velingrad | Vidin | Vratsa | Yambol |
