Svilengrad

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Svilengrad's coat of arms.
Svilengrad's coat of arms.

Svilengrad (Bulgarian: Свиленград) is a municipality in Bulgaria situated at the border of Turkey and Greece. It is in the Haskovo Province.

With a population of approximately 20,000, Svilengrad is close to the road borders of Greece and Turkey (supposedly one of the largest road customs in Europe). Svilengrad is located ESE of Sofia and Plovdiv, South of Varna and Burgas, West of Edirne and North of the nearest Greek community Ormenio and Alexandroupoli in Greece. There is a higher level of employment than in surrounding villages. Most people work for customs and border related industries e.g. TIR servicing, hotels, border police, etc. The town center boasts a pedestrianized high street mostly filled with cafes, bars, phone shops and hotels. The town has 3 DVD rental shops, two cinemas and a library. The Maritsa river flows west of Svilengrad. The Evros Prefecture and Trigono of Greece is bordered to the south. The Rhodope mountains lie to the west and southwest. The area to the southwest is famous for its fruit trees.

Contents

[edit] Origins

During Ottoman times, the town's name was Mustafapasha. In 1529, the Old Bridge (Bulgarian: Старият мост) over the Maritsa, one of the symbols of the town, was erected.

[edit] Communities

The Bridge over the Maritsa River.
The Bridge over the Maritsa River.
Matochina castle.
Matochina castle.
  • Varnik
  • Dimitrovtse
  • Novo Selo
  • Raykova Mogila
  • Tsernodab
  • Matochina
  • Shtit
  • Pashovo
  • Kapitan Andreevo
  • Mezek
  • Lisovo
  • Studena
  • Levka
  • Sladun
  • Mihalich
  • Pystrogor

[edit] Sports

[edit] Transportation

There is a local bus station from which it is possible to reach many big Bulgarian cities including the Black Sea resorts and local communities.

  • A1, the Maritsa, access to Ö8 superhighway in Turkey bypasses Svilengrad
  • BG-9
  • BG-55
  • Road to Ormeni and Alexandroupoli in Greece, not part of E85

[edit] Persons

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 41°46′N, 26°12′E

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