The Haskovo Municipality is located among the rolling plains of southeastern Bulgaria. Strategically nestled between Rhodopi and Stara Planina mountain ranges, the region enjoys a pleasent climate, easy transportation access, and is a natural centre for cultural exchange. The municipality covers 740 sq km and includes the city of Haskovo and 35 surrounding villages. Haskovo is actually a member of a union of Europen towns for sustainable development. The town's ecological program is involved in many important projects relating to waste management, air and water monitoring, environmental management, regional ecological preservation, and so on. Twin cities: Leicester (England), Novara (Italy), Alexandroupolis and Orestiada (Greece), Odrin (Turkey), Abington (USA), Vitebsk (Belarus), Xi An (China).

Quick facts about Town of Haskovo:
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Хасково
Location: South-Central Bulgaria
Distance to capital city: 203 km from Sofia
Latitude: 41.94 N
Longitude: 25.569 E
Altitude: 100 - 199 m above the sea level
Province: Haskovo District
Municipality: Haskovo Municipality
Area size of town of Haskovo: 95.182 sq km
Population: 78 782 inhabitants (to 01/01/2007)
Post code (ZIP): 6300
Phone code: 038 from Bulgaria; 0035938 from outside.

History
The first settlement on this territory dates back to around 7000 years BC in the neolith period. Throughout its existence, the town experienced innumerable periods of revival and decay. During the first half of 13th century near Haskovo history witnessed one of the most successfull battles in Bulgarian history - the Battle of Klokotnitsa (nearby the village bearing the same name). On 9th March 1230 Tsar Ivan Assen II (1218 - 1241) inflicted a smashing defeat of the Byzantine Empire, which had violated the peace treaty. The battle at Klokotnitsa later proved to have been an event of immense importance for the entire future of Bulgaria.
The town developed into a settlement of craftsme although much smaller than the near village of Uzundzhovo, which hosted a big fair. In fact, during some time Haskovo called "Haskyoi by Uzundzhovo".
The town was liberated on 19 January 1878 by General Gourko's army. After the Balkan Wars the population of the town grew rapidly as a result of thr incoming refugees from Aegean Thrace. Gradually, it developed as the tobacco-producing centre in Bulgaria. The town is the birthplace of the noted Bulgarian scientist and social activist - Prof. Assen Zlatarov and the famous violin player Nedyalka Simeonova.

Landmarks
The Museum of History exhibiting sections in: "Archaeology", "Ethnography", "The Revival and teh national Liberation Movement", "19th Century Town Life (in the Paskalev's House), "Home Crafts - up to the end of 19th century" (in the Shishmanov's House), and "Prof. Assen Zlatarov" (Working hours: 9 a.m. - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.). The Gourkov's House, now the Composers' Club. The Museum of Literature. St. Archangel Mihail Church (Tsar Osvoboditel Str.) with precious frescoes and wood-carvings. St. Holy Mother Church, built in 1837 (Bratya Minchevi Str., working hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.). The Art Gallery (43, Tsar Osvoboditel Str.). Haskovo has two theatre houses - Ivan Dimov Theatre of Drama (40, Otets Paisii Str.) and the Puppet Theatre "Kutsoto Petle" ("the lame cockerel"). The town is a university centre and hosts the Territorial Systems and Administration Faculty with the University of national and World Economy, Sofia.

Surrounding areas
Kenana Park is a beautiful natural park adjacent to the town offering excellent opportunities for recreation, sports and tourism, located 3 kilometres south-west of the town. The Haskovo Mineral Baths is a balneological resort of national importance, located 15 kilometres west of the town (regular, hourly bus line to Haskovo). The 12 mineral water springs have a temperature of 48.5^o C and an output rate of 35 litres per second. The water is excellent for joint and other bone-structure (spinal) disorders and some gynaecological deceases are cured, as well. There is an open-air mineral pool. The resort is a starting point for hiking tours along marked tracks through the Eastern Rhodopes.
From the Baths one can reach the Sharapanite in about an hour walk. The Sharapani are unique Thracian wineries - enormous grape vessels carved out in plain rock and connected with channels for transporting the fluid (1st millenium BC). 7 kilometres to the north-west of the town and 2 kilometres from the village of Klokotnitsa one can find the remains of the Assenova Krepost (The fortress of Tsar Ivan Assen II) as well as the memorial i nhonour of the battle of 1230, when Tsar Ivan Assen II captured the Despot of Epir - Theodor Komnin. Close by is a big tourist complex. Regular bus lines to Haskovo.
20 kilometres away from haskovo, nearby the village of Alexandrovo, immediately by Maritsa Motorway connecting Europe with Asia, the scientists have excavated a domed Thracian tomb dating back to the second half of the 4th century BC. The wall is covered with paintings displayed hunting scenes with 7 riders, 4 people on foot, 2 deer, 2 wild boars and 9 hunt dogs. The scenes are of unique artistic value, true, expressive, and unparalleled in the Thracian art up to now.
The Sanctuary of the Nymphs is located 10 kilometres to the north-west of the town, near the village of Kasnakovo. Izvora na Belonogata Tourist Complex is 37 km east of Haskovo (4 km east of Harmanli). Remarkable is the old drinking fountain built in 1585 the legend of which inspired the great Bulgarian poet P.R. Slaveikov to write the poem of the same name, translated as "The spring of the white-legged maiden" which gave the name of  the tourist complex. Accessible by regular bus lines.