Pazardzhik Province
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Pazardzhik Province Област Пазарджик |
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|---|---|
| Province | |
 Location of Pazardzhik Province in Bulgaria |
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| Country | Bulgaria |
| Capital | Pazardzhik |
| Municipalities | 11 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Angel Cholakov |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,456.9 km2 (1,720.8 sq mi) |
| Population (February 2011) | |
| • Total | 275,548 |
| • Density | 62/km2 (160/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| License plate | PA |
Coordinates: 42°5′N 24°15′E / 42.083°N 24.250°E
Pazardzhik Province (Bulgarian: Област Пазарджик Oblast Pazardzhik, former name Pazardzhik okrug) is a province in Southern Bulgaria, named after its administrative and industrial centre - the city of Pazardzhik. The territory is 4,456.9 km that is divided into 12 municipalities with a total population of 275,548 inhabitants, as of February 2011.
The territory of the Pazardzhik Province has been inhabited since very early times. There are more than 50 discovered Stone Age and Bronze Age settlements. The earliest civilization to inhabit the region were the Thracians. The remains of the Thracian town Besapara are located in the hills near the provincial capital Pazardzhik. The Panagyurishte Treasure unearthed near the northern town of the same name is known as one of the finest examples of Thracian art. The 6.164 kg of 23-karat gold treasure which consists of nine vessels has been dated back to the 4th and 3rd century BC. In the 1st century BC the region became a Roman province and remained in the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome.
Most of the region became part of the Bulgarian Empire in the beginning of the 9th century and remained in Bulgarian hands until the fall of the First Empire. With the rise of the Second Bulgarian Empire the region once again became part of the country until it was overran by the Ottomans in the late 14th century. Some of medieval fortresses are Tsepina near the village of Dorkovo and Krasen in the vicinities of Bata.
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Wikipedia