Asenovgrad

Asenovgrad
Асеновград
Town
From the top, Town Centre, Ethnograph Museum, Church of the Dormition
Coat of arms of Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad is located in Bulgaria
Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad
Location of Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad is located in Balkans
Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad (Balkans)
Coordinates: 42°1′N 24°52′E / 42.017°N 24.867°E / 42.017; 24.867
CountryBulgaria
Province
(Oblast)
Plovdiv
Government
 • MayorHristo Grudev
Area
 • Town78.012 km2 (30.121 sq mi)
Elevation
269 m (883 ft)
Population
 (Census February 2011)
 • Town54,778
 • Density700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
 • Urban
65,962
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
4230
Area code0331
License platePB
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website

Asenovgrad (Bulgarian: Асеновград [ɐˈsɛnovˌɡrat]) is a town in central southern Bulgaria, part of Plovdiv Province. It is the largest town in Bulgaria that is not a province center. Previously known as Stanimaka (Станимака; Greek: Στενήμαχος), it was renamed in 1934 after the 13th-century tsar Ivan Asen II.

Asenovgrad also includes the districts of Gorni Voden and Dolni Voden, which until 1986 were separate villages. According to the census data of 2021, the population of the city is 47 815 people.[1]

Above the town are the remains of the Asen Fortress, an old fortress that was strengthened under Tsar Ivan Asen II and turned into an important military post in the defense of the southern borders of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
188712,191—    
191012,969+6.4%
193417,773+37.0%
194620,952+17.9%
195625,265+20.6%
196537,433+48.2%
197542,962+14.8%
198547,143+9.7%
199252,360+11.1%
200151,936−0.8%
201150,846−2.1%
202145,943−9.6%
Source: Censuses[2][3]

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.

The majority of Asenovgrad residents are Bulgarians, with representatives of the Turkish and Romani people ethnic groups in the city.

  1. ^ "Население по градове и пол | Национален статистически институт". nsi.bg (in Bulgarian).
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Cities of Bulgaria". 2024-04-03.