Haskovo

Haskovo or Khaskovo, city (1993 pop. 81,389), S Bulgaria, in an agricultural region noted for its tobacco. The city has one of Bulgaria's largest cigarette factories. Other industries include textiles and metalworking. A mineral spa is located nearby.

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Haskovo

Haskovo (Хасково); is the name of a town and administrative centre of the province of the same name in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Greece and Turkey. Its population (as of December 2005) is 96,010. The province includes the town of Dimitrovgrad.

Haskovo celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1985. To mark the event, a new clock tower was erected in the centre of the town. In medieval times it was known for the nearby Uzundzhovo fair, famous in all of Bulgaria.

History

According to the archeologists, the area of Haskovo was originally settled about seven thousand years ago. In and around Haskovo, evidence has been preserved that confirms its long history during the prehistoric, Thracian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

In the 9th century—during the First Bulgarian Empire—a fortress was built in Haskovo that soon was transformed into a town. The town was located at the centre of a sizable region between the Klokotnitsa, Harmanliyska, and Maritsa rivers.

In 1395 the Eski camii (the Old Mosque) was built as one of the first in the Balkans. It is interesting that its minaret is slightly inclined.

In 1782, the town was known as Marsa. Many speculate that the current name came from the Arabic word "has" (possession) and the Turkish word "köy" (village) (Hasköy). Several historians have ascertained that the Turkish word "has" has roots to the meaning "clean". Strengthening this argument further, the town was literally called "the clean town" during the Bulgarian Revival period. The Turkish "köy" was subsequently substituted with the Bulgarian (and common Slavic) placename suffix "-ovo".

Most Bulgarians began to re-settle in Haskovo at the beginning of the nineteenth century. At this time, the settlement was a trading centre for merchants from Edirne, Enos, and Istanbul. Slowly, the area acquired a strong reputation for producing cotton materials, silk fabrics, and carpets.

After the liberation in 1878 Haskovo became a centre of high-quality tobacco region. However, now there is no cigarette production in the region as the once big Tobacco company "BT Haskovo" was closed. Nowadays there are some enterprises producing food, machinery and fabric.

Haskovo Cove in Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for the city of Haskovo.

Culture

The cultural life in the town is presented by the newly renovated Ivan Dimov Dramatic Theatre, the historical museum and an art gallery. The annual Colourful Thrace Sings and Dances folk festival takes place in the nearby park Kenana.

A 32-metre-high statue of the Mother of God and the Infant Jesus was erected on the Hill of Youth near Haskovo in 2003. The monument was inaugurated on 8 September on the occasion of the Nativity of Holy Virgin Mary, when the day of the town of Haskovo is celebrated. It entered the Guinness Book of Records as the highest monument to Our Lady in the world.

The town centre has recently been the subject of many investments and renovation.

Notable natives

Tane Nikolov (1873-1947), revolutionary
Asen Zlatarov (1885-1936), scientist
Nedyalka Simeonovа (1901-1959), violinist
Stanimir Stoilov (b. 1967), footballer and football manager
Grigor Dimitrov (b. 1991), tennis player; 2008 Wimbledon and US Open junior champion