BULGARIA - Hissar

"Hisarya (Bulgarian: Хисаря, also known as Hisar, Hissar or Hissarya, formerly: Toplitsa, Latin: Diocletianopolis or Augusta) is a small resort town in Bulgaria, in Plovdiv Province. It is notable for the impressive remains of the ancient Roman city of Diocletianopolis, the enormous walls of which still stand close to their original height for the majority of their circuit. The ancient city lies largely unencumbered by the adjacent modern town, in green parkland full of birdsong. In the centre of the park are still over two dozen hot mineral springs. Hisar means fort or castle in Turkish.

The town was founded thousands of years ago probably on account of its hot springs. Some pre-historic remains have been found in what is now the town centre. Later, it became a Thracian city and, when Thrace fell to the Romans and became a Roman province, Hisarya became a Roman town — one of the three most important towns in the province. At times it was called Augusta, Diocletianopolis (after emperor Diocletian), and a couple of other names. It was a famous resort even in those times, which is proved by the fact that emperor Septimius Severus visited the city."