Sliven
Set in south-eastern Bulgaria, this province is well-known for its participation in various revolutionary committees and for the Bulgarian Haiduts, independent fighters against Ottoman rule. The 19th Century thus proved to be crucial for the region, as it formed much of its present-day history and legends. A further notable sight here is Sinite Kamani (The Blue Rocks), part of a scenic national park. Otherwise, the territory was first populated circa 6000 BC, and the local archaeological museums, mostly concentrated in the town of Sliven, display a plethora of Neolithic artifacts. Traces of the Thracians go back to the 5th Century BC, mostly comprising ceramics and coins. As part of the Roman Empire, it retained its Thracian character and remained largely unaltered under the Ottomans.