Lyubimets

Lyubimets (Bulgarian: Любимец) is a small town in Haskovo Province, southern-central Bulgaria, and the administrative centre of Lyubimets Municipality. It has a population of about 7,600. The town lies near the borders with Greece and Turkey and is positioned on an international TIR trucking route. Formerly known as Habibchevo, the town was renamed Lyubimets in the early 20th century. The local economy is based on agriculture (fruit orchards, vineyards), light industry, and a small tourist sector serving transit travellers.

By Plane

The nearest airports are Plovdiv (about 100 km) and Burgas (about 160 km). Sofia Airport is roughly 260 km away and offers the widest range of flights.

By Train

Lyubimets has a railway station on the main Sofia–Plovdiv–Svilengrad line. Several daily trains connect Lyubimets to Plovdiv (about 2 hours) and Svilengrad (about 20 minutes).

By Car / Road

The town lies on the E80 European route, between Haskovo (about 30 km northwest) and Svilengrad (about 15 km southeast). The A4 Maritsa motorway runs nearby, providing fast access to Plovdiv and the Turkish border at Kapitan Andreevo.

The town centre is compact and walkable. Taxis are available for trips to the surrounding villages and to the railway station. Local buses connect Lyubimets with neighbouring towns and villages in the municipality.

• History Museum of Lyubimets — local museum with ethnographic exhibits and archaeological finds from the region.

• Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God — a 19th-century Bulgarian Orthodox church in the town centre.

• War Memorial — a monument dedicated to the soldiers from Lyubimets who died in the Balkan Wars and World War I.

• Walking and cycling along the Maritsa riverbank — a riverside promenade offers a pleasant route through the town.

• Wine tasting — the surrounding region is part of the Thracian Valley wine area, with several small wineries offering tastings.

• Wildlife observation — the Maritsa floodplain is home to diverse birdlife.

• Restaurants along the main street serve traditional Bulgarian cuisine including grilled meats, banitsa, and shopska salad. The area is known for its fresh fruit, particularly peaches and watermelons in summer.

Cafés and bars line the pedestrian area. Local wine and rakia are available in most establishments. Turkish-style coffee is widely served.

• Hotel Lyubimets — a modest hotel near the centre with basic rooms and a restaurant.
• Several private guesthouses offer budget accommodation for transit travellers and tourists.

The town centre has supermarkets, bakeries, and a covered market selling fresh produce and local products. Bulgarian wine and rose oil make good souvenirs.

• Svilengrad — border town with Ottoman bridge, Mezek Fortress, and Thracian tomb, 15 km southeast
• Haskovo — provincial capital with the Monument of the Holy Mother of God, 30 km northwest
• Harmanli — historic town with thermal springs and the 16th-century Harmanli bridge
• Madzharovo — small town with a vulture reserve in the Eastern Rhodopes