The town of Sliven is located in the eastern part of the Upper-Thracian valley, at the foot of the Sliven Balkan. It is on the international route E-773, linking Sofia with Bourgas, only 110 km away from the biggest Bulgarian commercial port. In parallel to this route runs a railway. The interesting border position of the county is considered favourable for the its development and the real estate market. The town is eminent for its crystal-clear air, deep water wells, mild winter and cool summer. The whole of Sliven Balkan region is renown for historical and cultural heritage, mineral springs and enchanting landscape, providing the basis for the local economy, manufacture and tourism in the Sliven region. The municipality of Sliven boasts a well-developed industrial complex. Its main characteristics is the diversity of its branches and sub-branches, as well as the good specification of the industry. The main branches of local local industrial complex are machine-building, chemical, textile, electro technical, food and beverage and light industry. The good positioning of the production units – on one side, the heart of the industrial complex in the town of Sliven, and on the other, a network in the whole region of an increasing number of small municipal companies and private firms with varied types of business (from building to commerce) are a major prerequisite for the town of Sliven rapid economic development. All of the above, combined with the good technical and engineering infrastructure, which form the second pillar of the local economy, insures a healthy growth of the county\'s economy in the future. The municipality of Sliven has good requisites to promote the town as a major international tourist destination,accentuating on mountain tourism, but developing also balneological, motor, congressional, rural and hunting tourism. It is of more importance that the Sliven region naturally serves as the economic rear of the sea tourism. The adopted “Tourist concept for Sliven”envisages tourism as a major economic factor, and aims at clever utilization of all natural and human resources, while rapidly developing the necessary infrastructure for modern tourism and enhancing the already present amenities. The constant growth of the number of tourists and investors only reinforces the desire to realize the full potential outlined in the concept. Most probably the name of the town is derived from the position of the town – at the intersection of the mountain and valley, and the convergence of three rivers – the Assenovska, Selishka and Novoselska river, whence sliven – “town of convergence”. There was a settlement in the boundaries of the modern town as back as VII – XII century, gradually becoming the most industrialized town in Bulgaria. It is not surprising that it is in Sliven that the first textile factory in the whole Balkan peninsula was established in 1836 by Dobri Zhelyazkov. Nowadays it is proclaimed a monument of national heritage. During the Bulgarian Revival the town was known as “the town of 100 voivodi ( leaders of small partisan groups)”. A must-see for tourists is the municipal history museum,the museum of the Bulgarian Revival and the house-museum of Hadzhi Dimitar, a hero of national liberation, which is actually a complex of several buildings. The monument of Hadzhi Dimitar is elevated in the centre of the town in 1935.At its foundation in special bays busts of other prominent persons of Sliven from that period can be seen. The chair lift, with its station in the northern part of Sliven,situated at the very foot of the mountain, will lift to more than 600 metres altitude those of you, who have the desire to take a stroll in the Sliven Balkan. The ground of Karandilla is sited in the northeastern part of Sliven, among century-old forests. Here you will discover the “Sinnite kammani”(Blue Stones) national park,where there is a huge abundance in natural strange rock formations, as for example Halkata. The national park preserves the local biosphere and is suitable for pedestrian-based and mountain tourism. On its territory there are many tourist walks, which will take you to awesome peaks, unique natural phenomena such as the rock formations Halkata, Enyova Bulka, Kuklite and many others, crystal-clear springs or the beautiful waterfalls Sinni vir, Futula and others. At the mountain resort Karandilla near the town of Sliven you will enjoy complete relaxation amidst the gorgeous scenery of the Stara Planina mountain. The reservation Kutelka, which is part of the Sinnite Kammani national park, is of international importance, protecting a number of Red Book birds and animals (Gypaetus barbatus,Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Falco peregrinus and others ). The reservations in the national park Sinnite Kammani offer also excellent opportunities for sport, tourism and recreation. There are ski tracks with a ski lift, a football field and a lake. The Karandilla national park is point of departure along numerous well-marked mountain walks. The mineral bath of the town is situated some 12 km away to the southwest of Sliven, at the village of Zlaty Voivoda, near the road to the town of Nova Zagora. Here the visitors are seeking relief from pains of bones and joints, nervous system, stomach and the liver diseases. The town of Kottel is located in a small picturesque glen in the eastern part of the Stara Planina mountain, in the Sliven region. Kottel is striking with its majestic scenery, fresh air and clear mountain brooks. The town is of paramount importance for the national revival and that is why it is called “stronghold of Bulgarian national spirit” and “cradle of Bulgarian Revival”.It is birthplace of a lot of prominent figures from that period, of whom we are now proud. No wonder that the first gymnasium for folk singing and instrumental folk music “Philip Koutev” found its home here, still astonishing everyone with the folk songs. Kottel boasts very interesting samples of late Bulgarian Revival architecture and at that time was an important centre of the art of carpet-weaving. There are over 30 explored caves in its surroundings, offering a real challenge to the lovers of strong emotions. The rich history, unique architecture and the lovely mountain scenery attract in this pretty mountain town a growing number of local and foreign tourists, who, enchanted by the sights and the history of the town, are willing to purchase some property, just to be able to return whenever they want in this tiny piece of paradise on earth! The village of Zheravna is sited in the middle part of the Stara Planina mountain, and is another place of interest, that the local people and tourists like to visit a lot. The simple reason for that is, that each single house in the village is a monument of traditional Bulgarian architecture from the period of national revival. Other villages like Medven, Neykovo, Gradetz and Katunishte are also famous for their architecture, and many buildings in them are proclaimed national cultural and architectural monuments from the same period.
