RETRO PLOVDIV is a place for walks through the history of Plovdiv. Many old photographs take you back in time, when the city was different and the people different. The collection in the sections below contains over 24 900 old photos, old maps, plans, books on the history and people of Plovdiv. There are also several interactive historical projects for Plovdiv, which are based on the discussions in the group “Action “Photo Plovdiv” on Facebook. Most of the photos are digital copies of collections in state archives and libraries, but many are from private collections and shared in the group.

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RETRO PHOTO CHRONICLE OF PLOVDIV

And for the most impatient I have prepared this separate page with photos for Plovdiv.

Long after the Liberation, Plovdiv was the largest and most developed city in the Bulgarian lands. As the capital of Eastern Rumelia, it flourished in cultural life, production and trade, and after the Union it established itself as the cultural capital of the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

THE LEGACY OF ANTIQUITY

ARCHITECTURE

ARMY

THE TRAIN STATIONS

THE MAIN STREET

DOCUMENTS

KUDOGLU HEALTH BUILDING

THE NEIGHBORHOODS

THE CINEMA THEATERS

THE PEOPLE OF PLOVDIV

THE MARITSA RIVER AND THE BRIDGES

OTTOMAN HERITAGE

THE OFFICER'S CLUB

THE FAIRS

THE SQUARES

THE TIME OF SOCIALISM

PICTURES FROM ABOVE

THE OLD TOWN

THE TUNNEL

SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS

FACTORIES AND PRODUCTIONS

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS IN PLOVDIV

THE HOTELS

THE HILLS OF PLOVDIV

THE CHURCHES OF PLOVDIV

... AND MANY OTHER PICTURES!

ADDITIONALLY COLORED BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS

Most of the photos I have painted myself, but there are some that were printed in color at the time. There are people who prefer to look at the old footage in its authentic form. But many of us would prefer to see that Plovdiv through the eyes of the photographer, rather than reflected on the black and white plaque of their camera. Moreover, we can never know what the original, truly authentic look of the photos was, which may have changed to this day. Very likely they were not necessarily in the degrees of black. In any case, colored photographs remain a fun alternative to the original ones and bring us new emotions and delight to the eye.

Older shots

Newer shots

Plovdiv in paintings

Plovdiv of graphics and engravings

Plans of Plovdiv

Plovdiv on the old maps

Books and articles

Famous people in Plovdiv

Architectural map of Plovdiv

Memories from "Photo Plovdiv Action"

The history of the Bulgarian national liberation struggles and the development of Bulgaria after Liberation.

A huge collection of photos, documents, maps and video materials reflecting the development of Bulgaria after Liberation and the upsurge of the country's economic and cultural life.

Historical photo park
"RETRO PLOVDIV"
is supported by me, but you can join and help my work last longer to be useful to more and more people.