City history
Explore the history of Plovdiv, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, from its Thracian roots to its modern Bulgarian identity.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Unknown"
The earliest recorded name for the Thracian settlement established on the hills of Plovdiv before its Macedonian conquest.
Unknown
The original Thracian settlement name.
City of Philip
Renamed by Philip II of Macedon in 342 BC.
Three Hills
Refers to the city's three significant hills: Nebet Tepe, Sahat Tepe, and Taxim Tepe.
Unknown
The name used during the period of Ottoman rule.
Unknown
The current Bulgarian name for the city.
Chapter two
Bulgaria began formalizing standard timekeeping to align with regional European practices.
Implementation of Daylight Saving Time practices to align with European economic cycles.
Chapter three
The connection of Plovdiv to the regional rail network, facilitating rapid modern growth and connectivity.
Plovdiv was selected to host the prestigious European Capital of Culture event, celebrating its ancient heritage.
The transition of the city into the modern Bulgarian administrative system following the liberation.
Plovdiv played a critical role in the unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.