Quick facts about town of Kardzhali
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Кърджали
Location: South-Central Bulgaria
Distance to capital city: 205 km from Sofia
Latitude: 41.65 N
Longitude: 25.367 E
Altitude: 200 - 299 m above the sea level
Province: Kardzhali District
Municipality: Kardzhali Municipality
Area size of town of Kardzhali: 30.759 sq km
Population: 45 482 inhabitants (to 01/01/2007)
Post code (ZIP): 6600
Phone code: 0361 from Bulgaria; 00359361 from outside.

History
This place had been settlement as early as 6 000 years ago. Prehistoric remains of human life as well as ample examples of the presence of Thracian, Roman and Byzantine culture have been found plus medieval Bulgarian and late-Ottoman remains. The first historical finds are associated with the Thracian tribe koelaleti, subdued by the Romans during 1st century. Then came the Slavic tribe of Smoleni. During the Middle Ages the settlement frequently shifted under Bulgarian or Byzantine rule. Bulgarian presence is proved by the unique 3-navel Bulgarian basilica found in Vesselchane Quarter if the town dated to the 11th - 12th century. This town quarter is heir of medieval Bulgarian town Munyak demonstrating an architectural style, similar to that of Preslav, Mesemvria and Turnovo. In the 14th century the settlement was conquered by the Turks, and in 1379 it was populated by colonists from Asia Minor. In the middle of the 17th century the town was ruled by Kurdzhi Ali - a noted army leader. It is supposed that that accepted the town was named after him. During the 18th century bloodthristy kurdzhalii gangs (Turkish brigands), which ruined not one and two prospering Bulgarian villages, used to gather in the town. In January 1878 the Don Cossacks of General Chernobouzov liberated the town, which was to remain within the Eastern Rumelia part of the country, as agreed under the Berlin Treaty. In 1886 it is given to Turkey again as a compensation for the Union (1885). On 8th October 1912 the soldiers of colonel Delov's regiment liberated the town for the second and last time. Gradually, Kurdzhali became the "tobacco warehouse of the Eastern Rhodopes" and later a centre for the development of Bulgarian non-ferrous metallurgy.

Landmarks
The Bulgarian Basilica St. Joan the Precursor (11th - 12th century) is located in the Vesselchane Quarter of the town. At the end of 1998 during continuing excavations a unique find was brought to the surface in it  - the burial tomb of a senior Christian bishop (dated back to end of the 12th or the beginning of the 13th century) wearing his gold-knitted clerical attire. There are only three more dresses of this kind in the world but this has proved to be the first find of its kind in a burial tomb. A fantastic archaeological find!
In the former konak (the Turkish town-hall built around 1870) with its interesting exterior architecture one can visit the Museum of History. The Picture Gallery (working hours: 9 a.m. - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.) hosts the works of such painters as Vladimir Dimitrov - the Master, Kiril Tsonev, Dechko Uzunov, Svetlin Roussev, V. Decheva, D. Kirov and others, as well as icons, prints and church plates.
Kardzhali has two theatres - the Dimitur Dimov Theatre of Drama and the Puppet Theatre. There are several senior schools in the town for teachers, nurses and midwives.

Surrounding areas
Close to the village of Zimzelen, 5 km north-east of the town, visitors can see another of natures wildest whims - the natural earthen Kardzhali Pyramids. They are scattered on a steep slope over a wide area and are of most different size and shape (Gubite - The mushrooms, Vkamenenata Svatba - The  Stoned Wedding), coloured in white, pink and green. Tuff based they have acquired these shapes due to weather conditions in the course of millions of years. The village can be reached by regular bus lines.
In the eastern Rhodopi Mountain, near the town of Kurdzhali (10 km), on a rocky summit, is located the famous sanctuary and castle of the Thracians - Perperikon. The complex had been used already during 5-4 millennia before Christ. In the 10th-7th centuries B.C., when the complex was most intensively used, thousands of monuments, a tomb and even a system of drains were cut out of the rock. There are places where men and animals were sacrified. Very interesting is also the Kings Palace that is supposed to lay in 10 000 square meters. For the time being 30 of about 60 rooms of the palace, hewn into the rocks, have been found. The walls of the complex are stone blocks which are 2.8 meters thick. The archeologists hope that they'll find proof that Perperikon was Dionysus's temple. Today there is an art-festival (on 21st June) which aims is to maintain the extensive variety of our cultural heritage.
After the wall of the Studen Kladenets Dam (Cold Well) one can see the incredibly narrow canyon of the Arda River, called Devil's Bridge (one can get there bus or enjoy the sight from a ship).
The medieval fortress of Perperek is located in the valley of a small river, only 7 km to the south-east of town (in the direction of Haskovo). This is the most powerful fortress in the Ahridos region, and during 13th - 14th century was a bishop's and fortified Bulgarian town. The Turks met fierce resistance during their invasion of the country in the 14th century and this is why after conquering it, they slaughtered the greater part of the population, others took in slavery and the destroyed the fortress. It now stands in ruins. Only the hexagonal tower of carved stone is partially preserved. Remnants of the settlement are also preserved - they were owned by the bolyar Momchil.