Zagore, Medieval region in northeastern Thrace, Bulgaria.
Zagore is a historical region in northeastern Thrace, Bulgaria, made up of rolling hills, open valleys, and farmland that stretches across the terrain. The landscape alternates between gentle slopes and flat plains, giving the area a varied and predominantly rural character.
The region has been inhabited since ancient times and was brought under Bulgarian rule during the medieval period, becoming part of the First Bulgarian Empire. Later, it passed through different hands over the centuries before becoming part of the modern Bulgarian state.
The name Zagore comes from a Slavic root meaning 'behind the mountains', which still reflects how the area sits in relation to the ridges around it. Local villages in the region still carry farming traditions tied to the land, and the open fields give the landscape a working, everyday character.
The region is reached by road through northeastern Thrace, with several routes crossing the hills and valleys. Visiting in spring or autumn makes it easier to move around the countryside without the heat of summer.
Several settlements across Bulgaria adopted the name Zagore or variations of it for their own designations, which shows how the region left a mark on the country's place names. This kind of naming spread across different areas is rare and gives the original region an unusual place in Bulgarian geography.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
