The customs of the Thracians are very interesting. They believed in life after death and buried the rich people with their favorite things: weapons, jewelry, wives, beloved horse and their favorite wine! The archeologists found in one tomb a clay vessel in which there was wine with preserved charred grapes. Their examination showed that they are from sort that is a transition from wild to a domesticated vine. This process has begun more than 4 thousand years before as the analysis of the forms and types of the clay vessels showed. And the grapes are there because the wine in ancient Thrace was left to ripen together with the flakes and seeds of the grapes and sometimes was filtrated before consuming. A big clay filter has been found in the last excavated tomb near Starosel.

Well, this is not the valley of the pharaohs and queens in Egypt, but if you choose some of our itineraries that include the valley of the roses you will have the chance to visit such a Thracian tomb – that in Kazanlak. The wall paintings are very expressive: a ceremony with drinking of wine! Unlike the Greek people, women in Thrace also liked this divine liquid. While the Greek dashed it at least three times and sometimes 20, the Thracians consumed it pure.
The Elines described the Thracians as habitual drunkards although the Elines themselves drank a lot also. As they drank pure wine the Thracians and the Skits were considered barbarians, not like the Elines who used to dash it with water. The Elines thought that the pure wine was poisonous and only centaurs, satyrs and barbarians drank it.
This tomb is near the town of Kazanlak and dates back to the time of the rule of the Thracian tsar Sevt III. That’s where the old name of Kazanlak comes from – Sevtopolis, town of Sevt. One of the wall paintings presents one of the most famous ways of ritual drinking: the feast. Ksenofon has described a feast that the Thracian tsar Sevt organized for the Eline generals. His testimony assures us that in ancient Thrace the feast had the features of this important for the whole ancient world institution.

The golden treasure of Panagurishte dates back also to the same period – the 3rd and the 4th BC. Now it is in the Historical museum in Sofia and is included in our program for sightseeing in Sofia.

If you come on our traditional tour in May you’ll have the wonderful opportunity to attend the holiday of the rose as Kazanlak is also the town of the roses. This holiday is full with flowers and fun and wine of course!