2. Historical information of the region Yambol region covers the main crossroads of the Balkan peninsula and it is south of the Stara planina mountain. In this region is the cross-point of two very important roads – the main road East- West (from the Black sea to the West) and the main road North – South (“The Salt Road” – from the Aegean sea to the Danube river). The whole Yambol region spreads out along the Tundzha river (the Ancient Tonzos) – lands covered with prehistoric settlements – more than 150, some of them excavated. Some of the archeological finds are exhibited in the Louver Museum, the British museum and in the Archeological museum in Sofia. Great number of the finds are possession of the Historical museum of Yambol. There are number of main discoveries made by Bulgarian – German archeological team in the lands of Drama village. Unique fragments of Mycenaean ceramic and “Linear letter B” printing prove the connections between population of South-east Thracian lands and the civilization of the Aegean region.

3. The ruins in Kabile - indisputably the most important and the biggest ancient Thracian town in Bulgaria are situated only 6 km away from Yambol. The town is mentioned in the literature of such old-Greeks authors like Demosten, Teopomp, Strabon. Kabile is famous as a capital of Thracian kingdom from ІІІ C.B.C. and as a residence of the Thracian kings Spartok and Skostok. It has been the only town with its own mint, producing coins not only to the Thracian kings but also silver and copper coins for autonomic towns. There are two incredible architectural monuments preserved from the period of the Ottoman empire - XV c. – Bezisten and Eski Mosque. Churches “St. George” and “St. Trinity” which have been keeping alive the Bulgarian and Christian traditions during the Ottoman yoke, are very well preserved. Yambol was liberated in January 1878 by the Russian army. In memory of them was built the church St. Alexander Nevski. It was the first memorial of the Bulgarian-Russian relationship. In the first half of 20-th century Yambol was famous with its mineral waters, the unique horse-tram, with peacock farming, with the zeppelin and other sights.

4. Accommodation in “Tundzha hotel” Visit to: - Historical museum; - Art gallery “ “ “ “George Papazov”; - Bezisten; - The mosque. Additional visit to a disco-bar or the hotel restaurant.

5. Hotel “Tundzha” Hotel “Tundzha“ is located in the central part of Yambol town, along the pictorial strand of the Tundzha river. It is the biggest hotel in Yambol and offers: 6 luxurious suites with satellite TV and mini- bar; 15 single rooms with TV; 18 double rooms with TV; single and double rooms without TV. All rooms are renovated, with modern furniture.

6. The museum was founded in 1952. Specialized departments: “Archeology", “Bulgarian lands ХV- ХІХ c.", “New and contemporary history", “Public relations" and “Restoration". Funds: prehistory - 4 000 exponents; antiquity - 2 600 exponents; middle ages - 1 600 exponents; numismatics - 6 200 exponents; renaissance - 3 050 exponents; ethnography - 4 500 exponents; new history - 15 000 exponents; contemporary history - 15 000 exponents. The Historical Museum

7. The Art Gallery The Art gallery starts its activity in 1952 as a department of the Historical museum. As an independent cultural institute it functions from November 1979 when the Second national exhibition of decorative arts was opened. The fund of the gallery owns 3 128 works, more than 3000 units of scholarly literature and more than 1 000 volumes specialized literature. The gallery possesses the richest collection of decorative works in the country.

8. Bezisten It was built in the second middle of XV c. in the center of the town. It is one of the 10 covered markets in Europe. It is the only building of that kind in Bulgaria, very well preserved monument. It gives very unique impression of Yambol and is one of the town’s symbols. The Bezisten was restored in 1970- 1973 and still works as a covered market..

9. The Mosque Eski Mosque in Yambol In the center of Yambol ascends the Eski mosque, built in the second decade of ХV c. It has been restored in the 70-s of 20-th century.

10. Breakfast; Visit to: - the excavations in Drama village; - the native house of Ivan Atanasov in Boyadzhik. Additional – – – – visit to disco-bar.

11. Ivan Atanasov WHO IS JOHN VINCENT ATANASOV What should be the current days without the computer? It is everyday instrument of the human information era. Yet not so many people know that its creator has Bulgarian origin. He is John Vincent Atanasov – the genius American inventor who was proud with his Bulgarian parentage. John Atanasov was born on 4 of October 1903, state New York. His father – I I I Ivan Atanasov was born in the village of Boyadzhik, Bulgaria. He became orphan in the April rebellion in 1876. In 1889 the 13 years old Ivan Atanasov emigrated to the USA together with his uncle. He married to Iva Lucena, teacher of mathematics.

12. The village of Boyadzhik The village of Boyadzhik is situated in the Thracian low- lands, North of St. Elias heights, 22 km west of the district center – Yambol. After 1830 t t t the village becomes center of sub-constituency Nahia, district of Edirne and is called Novai. The rebellion of Boyadzhik famous as the “Slaughter of Boyadzhik” in 1876 is the most considerable event of the village.