Valley of Roses (Bulgaria)

The Valley of Roses is formed by two river valleys - the River in the west and the Tundzha River in the east, located respectively in the and Kazanlak basins. The eastern part of the region with an area of ​​1895 km ² is located at an altitude of about 350 meters above sea level and extends 95 km in length, 10-12 km in width. In the eastern part is the city of Kazanlak. The western part, with the cities of Karlovo and Kalofer, covers an area of ​​1387 km ² , 55 km in length and up to 16 km in width ^[1] . The region is characterized by a temperate continental climate with a long mild spring, moderately warm summer, cold autumn and mild winter, and a short period of snow cover. In the valley, moderately rich soils and soft water, sufficient sunny days, high air humidity in May and June, and plentiful morning dew are the best conditions for growing oil roses ^{[2] [3]} .

In Kazanlak, considered the capital of the Valley of Roses, there is a historical and ethnographic complex "Tower", where tourists can observe primitive rosemary and try products with oil rose ^{[3] [4]} .

The Valley of Roses is famous for the cultivation of industrial roses and is considered one of the symbols of Bulgaria. Here, for centuries, a damask rose ( Rosa damascena ) has been grown, from which, by distillation and other processes, rose oil is obtained, which is widely used in pharmacy , perfumery and other industries.

Damask rose was brought to Bulgaria from Persia in the XIII century ^{[4] [5]} . Under the influence of unique climatic and soil conditions, a special variety formed here - the Kazanlak rose (Rosa damascena var. Trigintipetala) ^{[6] [7]} , which differs from other oilseeds cultivated in other countries ^[8] .

The first industrial plantings appeared in the region at the end of the 16th century ^[2] .

Documentary evidence of the start of the production of rose oil in Klisur dates back to 1800 ^[9] .

Even before the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke in 1878, there were about 10,000 hectares of rose plantations in the country, the production of rose oil reached 1000 kg per year ^[9] .

Bulgaria gained the most popularity in the production of rose oil in the late XIX and early XX centuries, when rose oil was recognized as an indispensable ingredient for the products of the perfumery, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. In the Valley of Roses, there were three large centers for the production of roses - Karlovo , Kazanlak and Kalofer , the main producers of roses and rose oil were the family enterprises of Shipkov, Kidovy and Bonchev ^[2] .

Since 1903, at the beginning of summer, the Rose Festival has been celebrated annually in the Valley of Roses .

In 1906 - 1907 An experimental agricultural station was established in Kazanlak (ceased operations in 1908).

The largest plantations were kept before the First World War - about 90,000 hectares. In the postwar years, pink fields were reduced by three times, and as a result of the economic crisis of the 1930s, they were almost destroyed ^[9] .

In 1924, an experimental field was created in the Valley of Roses (on the basis of which the Institute of Rose, Essential Oil and Medicinal Crops was later created).

After World War II, a state policy was adopted to restore and develop rose gardens in the Valley of Roses ^[9] , during which private companies were nationalized.

In 1967, an exhibition was created at the Institute of Rose and Essential Oil Cultures in the city of Kazanlak, in 1969 it was allocated to a specialized Rose Museum.

In honor of the Rose Valley, a glacier is named on the Varna Peninsula of the Antarctic island Livingston in the South Shetland Islands archipelago ^[10] .

• Valley of roses on old postcards