castle
Asen's Fortress
A medieval fortress ruin with a surviving 13th-century church on a rock spur above the Chepelare river, beside the Asenovgrad–Smolyan road.
3 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeBulgariaPlovdiv
Asenovgrad
Plovdiv, Bulgaria · Europe
About Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Sadovo, 32km from Wonderful Bridges.
Asenovgrad is in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with about 55,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Sadovo, about 14 km away.
Asenovgrad (Bulgarian: Асеновград [ɐˈsɛnovˌɡrat]) is a town in central southern Bulgaria, part of Plovdiv Province. The seat of Asenovgrad Municipality, it is the largest town in Bulgaria that is not a province center. Previously known as Stanimaka (Станимака) or Stenimachos, it was renamed in 1934 after theRead more
13th-century tsar Ivan Asen II. Asenovgrad includes the districts of Gorni Voden and Dolni Voden, which until 1986 were separate villages.
The town is situated between the Upper Thracian Plain and the Rhodope Mountains along the river Chepelarska reka.
Above the town are the remains of the Asen's Fortress, an old castle that was strengthened under Ivan Asen II and turned into an important military post in the defense of the southern borders of the Second Bulgarian Empire. 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.
According to the census data of 2021, the population of the city is 47 815 people.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Asenovgrad?
Within an hour or so of Asenovgrad: Asen's Fortress (3 km), Plovdiv Old Town (17 km), Plovdiv Roman Theatre (17 km), Wonderful Bridges (32 km).
Are there any good drives near Asenovgrad?
The nearest famous roads are Trigrad Gorge, Troyan Pass (Beklemeto) and Shipka Pass.
Where is Asenovgrad?
Asenovgrad is in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, about 14 km from Sadovo.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 54,778
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Region
- Plovdiv
- Timezone
- Europe/Sofia
- Coordinates
- 42.0167, 24.8667
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for BulgariaTags
Worth the detour from Asenovgrad
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Plovdiv Old Town
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, with colorful Revival-period houses perched on ancient hills above Roman ruins.
17 km · about 20 min drive
ancient ruins
Plovdiv Roman Theatre
A remarkably well-preserved 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre seating 6,000 spectators, still hosting performances today.
17 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Wonderful Bridges
Two natural marble rock arches formed by a collapsed cave in the Rhodope mountains, reached by a paved road with a car park.
32 km · about 35 min drive
bridge
Devil's Bridge (Dyavolski Most)
Elegant 16th-century Ottoman arch bridge spanning the Arda River in a wild Rhodope gorge near Ardino, reached by a short mountain road: a legendary photo stop steeped in folklore.
49 km · about 55 min drive
ancient ruins
Perperikon
The largest megalithic complex in the Balkans: an entire city with palace, shrine and streets hewn from a rocky hilltop in the Eastern Rhodopes, occupied from 5000 BCE and linked by legend to an oracle of Dionysus.
60 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Asenovgrad
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 49 kmDevil's Bridge (Dyavolski Most)Elegant 16th-century Ottoman arch bridge spanning the Arda River in a wild Rhodope gorge near Ardino, reached by a short mountain road: a legendary photo stop steeped in folklore.
- 60 kmTrigrad GorgeNarrow Rhodope canyon road squeezing between 250 m marble cliffs to the Devil's Throat Cave, where a river thunders underground: one of Bulgaria's most dramatic drives.
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