Starosel invites visitors to follow into the steps of the ancient Odrissi people

Photo: Veneta Nikolova

   Starosel is well-known for its  traditions in wine-making

 Apart from its Thracian mounds and tombs, the village Starosel in Southern Bulgaria is also known for the excellent red wines made locally.

The Thracian tribe Odrissi who lived in this fertile part of present-day Bulgaria, were skilled winemakers. Today the people of Starosel continue the tradition and offer to tourists wines made with ancient techniques. Apart from lush vineyards, the vicinity of the village is dotted with fields of the world-acclaimed attar-giving rose. This combination makes the local landscape very lovely.

© Photo: Veneta Nikolova

     The Tracian cult center dating back to the 5th century BC unearthed near Starosel

Until ten years ago Starosel was a remote village that very few people knew about. Things changed overnight in 2000 when an expedition led by the late archeologist Georgi Kitov found not far from Starosel the largest Thracian cult complex discovered so far and dated to 5 c. BC. The find was soon declared unique capturing keen interest from scholars, journalists and tourists. People from across the world have come to visit the mysterious ancient monument also known with the name Chetiniova Mogila. Some archeologists suppose that the King of the Odrissi tribe Sitalk was buried in the complex. The latter has impressive dimensions and suggests the glorious past of the Thracians. There are nine other mounds in Starosel with unique architectural components and color decoration. All of them have been studied but are not open for the public. 

© Photo: Veneta Nikolova

 The wine-making center at Starosel

Instead you could visit the local winery. Its tasting hall – the so-called Rotunda – represents an enlarged replica of the nearby Chetiniova Mogila cut 8 meters deep into the ground.

Apart from tasting sessions of the characteristic local wines the rotunda also hosts reenactments of little known and very interesting Thracian rituals. 

     © Photo: Veneta Nikolova

The spa center at the winery offers effective wine treatments. Other attractions for tourists include jeep safaris, fishing, herb, grape and rose picking in the breathtaking vicinity of Starosel. People in the village see future mostly in terms of cultural and wine tourism. They invite their guests to follow into the steps of the ancient Odrissi and enjoy an unconventional vacation.

 Tourists are welcome to go hunting boars or deer in the heart of the Sredna Gora Mountain and go across the war fields of the Thracian kings of 20 centuries ago. Demonstrations of local traditions and rituals are organized as well as everything that has to do with local habits and ways, starting with the rose-picking campaign at the end of May, and then the celebrations for the opening of the grape picking one in September and the pruning of vines in February.

Veneta Nikolova

Translated by Daniela Konstantinova

Radio Bulgaria


Never Ending Journey