Haskovo is a large city at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains, known primarily as the center of the tobacco industry. In recent years, thanks to the renovation of many historic buildings in the center, it has started to attract more and more tourists.
The vicinity of today's city was already inhabited in the prehistoric period. Later, the Trak family also had their settlements here. One of the most important monuments of the region, the Alexandrian tomb, comes from this period.
The city in its present place was founded in the 13th century, and at the end of the 14th century one of the first mosques in Bulgaria was built here. Today, completely rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century, the building serves as the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Another monument from the period of the Turkish occupation is the old clock tower.
The most important attraction of Khaskov is the zoo, one of the largest in Bulgaria. There are also some interesting museums here, including the Regional History Museum, the Pascal Museum, and the Kirov School.
