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Starosel Thracian Temple and Hisarya spa resort

In August 2000, a sensational discovery occurred near the village of Starosel, in central Bulgaria. Archaeologists found the enormous temple of what is believed to be a Thracian ruler, possibly Sitalkes I, the first king of a combined Thracian empire. The Starosel Thracian Temple is the largest discovered so far dating back from the 4-5 centuries BC. This impressive site is also known as the Starosel Thracian cult complex because about a dozen of ancient tombs and graves were found around the central temple.

On the way to Starosel we drive through the village of Staro Zhelezare which had become quite popular in recent years because of the big and constantly growing number of street art decorating the houses and fences of local villagers. This unique open-air art gallery represents world celebrities and residents of the village shown to the public in an entertaining way. The person behind this intriguing project is a Bulgarian professor in fine arts whose ancestry is in the same village. He has locally founded the Piriankov’s Center for Contemporary Art Staro Zhelezare Village and every year he organizes his students on a summer camp to create street art on the village walls. Among the hundreds of images are all the greatest works of art from the MoMA which are for permanent viewing to the village audience in the open gallery of this amazing rural space.

After exploring the Starosel temple and one grave and one tomb nearby we continue to Hisarya (population: 7 000 people) – a small resort town famous for its hot mineral springs. In Hisаrya it feels like time has slowed down forever. Located in the outskirts of the Sredna Gora mountain range at 346 m. a. s. l., it boasts of a very mild climate and over two dozen mineral springs which make it a favorite

spa destination for many Bulgarian and foreign tourists. Hisarya is one of the 3 international spa resorts in Bulgaria, notorious for its significant Roman remains as well. These ruins are visible everywhere – public buildings, a small amphitheatre, the barracks of the Roman garrison, the foundations of a couple of the oldest churches in Bulgaria, as well as the best-preserved Roman fortress in Bulgaria. The southern fortress gate is known as “The Camels”, because it had broken in the middle and looked like two camels facing each other, before it was partially restored in the early 20th century.

In Hisarya we go on a lovely walk in the town’s green parks among mineral hot springs, fountains and Roman ruins.


Period: Year round

Trip duration: 5 – 6 hours

Price: Please e-mail us with  your possible tour date/s, the number of people in your group and you’ll be quoted accordingly. We’ll aslo advise on eventual shared trip options at a lower cost. 

Included: English speaking tour guide, transfers from/to your hotel in Plovdiv

Not included: Starosel Thracian temple entrance fee (1,50 EUR), Hisarya museum entrance fee (0,50 EUR) – optional, swimming pool entrance fee – optional, food and tip (optional). Extra time for swimming/spa in Hissarya is not included in the tour price. If you like to add this experience please let us know and we’ll quote you accordingly. 

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