Travel | Ruins | Monthly Challenge
Roman Ruins and Mineral Springs
A visit to one of the sunniest areas in Bulgaria
When you grow up in a country with 1,300+ years of history, ruins become an integral aspect of your everyday existence. In fact, they are so ubiquitous that as a child, I never paid much attention to them.
A prime example are the Roman ruins in Hissarya, a small town at the foothills of the Sredna Gora Mountains and a popular spa resort in Bulgaria. I used to visit the town often with my parents, and aside from wondering if I could climb up them and attempting to do so, I gave no thought as to why the ruins were there and where they came from.
Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. I’m fascinated by remnants of times long gone, trying to learn the stories they tell, or at least the stories we could guess they tell.
Once you visit Hissarya, you find out that modern humans aren’t the only ones to seek and enjoy the healing and relaxing powers of the mineral water that flows throughout the area. As the oldest balneological center in the country, the town has seen several different cultures as its residents throughout the centuries.
There’s evidence that the town was a popular spa center in ancient times as well, and thanks to efforts in recent years to restore and appreciate our history, many areas in Bulgaria are getting the care they deserve and are no longer left to the elements — and people — to do with as they please.
The recently restored Roman thermal springs area is one such location. As you can see in the photos above, the hot mineral water still runs in the pools, so inviting. If you want to take advantage of the water’s healing powers, however, do so at the many public and private pools in the town.
The restored Roman bath complex is for you to explore, admire, and appreciate by looking only!
By the way, speaking of mineral water, if not already clear, Hissarya is quite famous for it and there are tons of fountains around town and its many parks, and people come from near and far to fill up bottles and take home to drink.
Yes, mineral water runs freely in Hissarya, so bring a bottle or two when in town.
A warning, though, if you are not used to drinking fresh mineral water, it is hot and it does have a specific, pungent smell that may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s definitely not what you get when you buy bottled mineral water!
In one of the town’s many parks, you’ll come across the remnants of a home estimated to have been built 6 or 7 centuries ago. It’s one of my favorite places to walk around, imagining what life had been like at the time, in this particular residence.
The most impressive ruin Hissarya boasts, however, and the one you notice as soon as you enter the town, is the best preserved Roman city wall in Bulgaria. You can walk all around the four sides of the wall, noting the four gates that led into the old town.
A popular spot along the wall is the south gate, also known as the Camels because of its shape. What say you? Does it look like two camels staring at each other?
A few hundred meters outside the wall, on the outskirts of town, you’ll find a Roman family tomb that’s preserved in its original form and open to visitors. The tomb is small, and it doesn’t require much time to explore.
When I visited, as the only person around, I was able to spend a few more minutes taking in the sight and having a lovely chat with the person at the ticket counter, who emphasized how important it is to preserve such places and make sure they aren’t defaced, which apparently used to happen a few years ago in the form of people writing their names on the tomb walls.
Because of the tight space and the limit on how many people can be in the tomb, if you visit with a group, it may take a bit more time for everyone to walk down and check it out.
A warning that if you are claustrophobic or just not fond of tight, underground spaces, this may not be a pleasant experience for you.
If you decide to visit Hissarya, I recommend that you start at the Archeological Museum in town to both learn more about the area and purchase a combined ticket that allows you to see the museum, the bath complex, and the tomb.
Hissarya is a beautiful town that’s worth a visit any time of year, but if you happen to visit in the spring, you’ll be greeted by ruins decked in wildflowers, especially red poppies.
Multiple parks dot the small town, and considering that Hissarya is regarded as one of the sunniest spots in Bulgaria, I have no doubt you’d enjoy making it a stop on your visit to my native country.
It’s been so fun to read about ruins from around the world for this month’s challenge, some I’ve heard about and many I never knew existed.
Two articles that caught my attention, because they focus on places that many may not consider worth visiting, are the ones by Scott-Ryan Abt and Claire Elizabeth Levesque. I’ve come to truly appreciate venturing away from popular destinations to see what else a country has to offer, and both of these articles speak to the value and meaning of doing just that.
Want to join the Medium community and discover more engaging, thought-provoking, and fun reads? Click this link to join! (This link allows you to support me with a small commission!)
Want to get to know me more? Connect with me on Instagram!
Thank you for stopping by :)
