Starosel: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Starosel combines Thracian archaeology with wine, spa facilities and a landscape at the foot of the southern slopes of SÅ­shtinska Sredna Gora. Anyone looking to rent a holiday apartment in Starosel can continue their accommodation search afterwards.

Culture and History

The Thracian Cult Center at Chetinyova Mound near Starosel is an open-air archaeological site accessible to visitors year-round. The Thracian cult temple there dates from the late 5th to the 4th century BC and is described as the largest Thracian temple in the Balkans. The cult center itself is described as the largest Thracian royal complex with a mausoleum discovered to date. The Thracian cult complex in Starosel comprises six temples located beneath burial mounds, four of which are described as unique.

At Horizon Mound, the temple became the mausoleum of a deified Thracian ruler. The monumental temple, located beneath a mound, has a rectangular chamber surrounded by a U-shaped room. This room is decorated with ten columns in the early Doric style. Horizon Mound also has an information board, a car park and a footpath to the temple. The road from Starosel to the Chetinyova Mound Thracian Temple Complex is paved; the complex is located about 4 km northwest of Starosel.

St Nedelya in Starosel was built in 1819 and rebuilt ten years after the fire of 1876. The unique icons in the church were created by the painter Nikola Danchov. Nearby lies Kozi Gramadi, a Thracian architectural complex with a royal residence, an ancient fortress, rock sanctuaries, roads, mound necropolises and quarries.

Wine and Culinary Delights

The Starosel winery offers guests of the complex guided tours of the winery and tastings. Wine and rakija tastings are served at the Temple of Wine. The enoteca at the Starosel complex resembles a rotunda and also hosts wine and rakija tastings.

Restaurant Teroar serves Bulgarian and international gourmet cuisine. The restaurant has an open kitchen with a Big Green Egg BBQ as well as an authentic bread and pizza oven.

Spa and Leisure

The Starosel complex offers two spa centers with modern spa facilities and wine treatments. It is supplied with mineral water from a spring 7 km from Starosel. The wine and spa complex also offers a children's center, a modern playground and a zoo area next to the playground.

Cycling Route and Surroundings

The 20 km Hisarya–Matenitsa–Starosel cycling route is designated for more experienced cyclists. It passes through mixed forests, along reservoirs and through villa zones. The route ends in Starosel, where visitors can see the Thracian cult temple.

More local pages: Belovitsa.

To the higher-level travel overview: Hisarya.