Aytos

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title: "Aytos" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-established-in-the-5th-century-bc", "populated-places-in-burgas-province", "towns-in-bulgaria"] topic_path: "general/populated-places-established-in-the-5th-century-bc" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aytos" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameAytos
native_nameАйтос
image_skylineAytos from Hisarya.jpg
image_captionAytos from the Hisarya Heights above town
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameBulgaria
subdivision_type1Province
(Oblast)
timezoneEET
utc_offset+2
timezone_DSTEEST
utc_offset_DST+3
map_captionLocation of Aytos
pushpin_mapBulgaria
pushpin_label_position
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Aytos
pushpin_relief1
leader_titleMayor
postal_code_typePostal Code
websiteOfficial website
area_total_km279.033
population_density_km2auto
subdivision_name1Burgas
population_total18974
population_as_of2021
elevation_m95
postal_code8500
area_code558
coordinates
leader_nameSlavcho Topalov
population_demonymAytossian
::

|official_name = Aytos |native_name = Айтос | image_skyline = Aytos from Hisarya.jpg | image_caption = Aytos from the Hisarya Heights above town |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Bulgaria |subdivision_type1 = Province (Oblast) |timezone=EET |utc_offset=+2 |timezone_DST=EEST |utc_offset_DST=+3 |map_caption = Location of Aytos| |pushpin_map =Bulgaria |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_map_caption =Location of Aytos |pushpin_mapsize = |pushpin_relief = 1 |leader_title =Mayor |postal_code_type =Postal Code |website =Official website |area_total_km2 =79.033 |population_density_km2 =auto | subdivision_name1=Burgas| population_total=18974|population_urban=27326|population_footnotes=| population_as_of=2021| elevation_m=95| postal_code=8500| area_code=558 |coordinates = |leader_name=Slavcho Topalov| |population_demonym=Aytossian}}

** Aytos** ( ), sometimes written Aitos and Ajtos, is a town located in eastern Bulgaria some 30 kilometers from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and belonging to the administrative boundaries of Burgas Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Aytos Municipality. As of December 2021, the town has a population of 18,974 inhabitants. It lies in the Aytos Valley, the easternmost of the eleven Sub-Balkan valleys.

History

Aytos has a rich and long history dating back to antiquity. Founded by Thracian tribes, archaeological finds near the town testify that its existence dates back to the 5th century BC. Throughout the centuries, the town has been known under different names including Aetòs (in Greek Αετός meaning eagle), Astòs (Αστός), Eidos (Είδος), Aquilia, Tchengis, etc.

During the reign of Khan Tervel, the region was incorporated in the Bulgarian Empire for the first time. The fortress Aetos took an important part in the defensive system of the Bulgarian lands against the sudden attacks of the Tatars, the Avars and the Crusaders.

In 1206, Aytos together with many cities in Bulgarian province of Thrace was destroyed by the Crusaders, led by Henry of Flanders. Henry of Flanders was a brother of Baldwin I, emperor of Latin Empire of Constantinople. A fortified city was rebuilt at 1488.

In 1378 the town was conquered by the armies of the Ottoman Empire under Murad I. During the Russian-Turkish War (1828–1829), General Hans Karl von Diebitsch turned the town into a strategic strong point. After the Treaty of Edirne in 1829, many of the town's citizens fled to Bessarabia to join the Bessarabian Bulgarians.

During the Bulgarian National Revival the population participated in the Bulgarian struggles for liberation. Vasil Levski organized a revolutionary committee in the town.

After the Liberation, Aytos became a commercial center, reputedly more important than Burgas. The first girls' agricultural school in the country was established in Aytos during the period.

Transport

The geographic location determines the special significance of the municipality as a transport junction, where the road networks between Northern Bulgaria and Southern Bulgaria in this part of the country join. Important highways and the railway from Sofia to Burgas pass through it. Its good transport characteristics are also determined by the fact that it is only 28 km from Burgas, a key Black Sea port.

Geography

The town is located in eastern Bulgaria some 30 kilometers from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and belonging to the administrative boundaries of Burgas Province. It is situated in the Aytos Valley, enclosed between the Balkan Mountains, the Hisar Heights and the Burgas Plain.

Climate

|open= 1 |metric first= 1 |single line= 1 |location= Aytos, Bulgaria |Jan high C = 7.0 |Feb high C = 8.4 |Mar high C = 12.4 |Apr high C = 18.7 |May high C = 24.4 |Jun high C = 27.5 |Jul high C = 30.6 |Aug high C = 30.8 |Sep high C = 26.7 |Oct high C = 21.2 |Nov high C = 14.6 |Dec high C = 8.1 |year high C = 19.2 |Jan mean C = 2.2 |Feb mean C = 3.2 |Mar mean C = 6.8 |Apr mean C = 13.1 |May mean C = 18.8 |Jun mean C = 22.2 |Jul mean C = 25.1 |Aug mean C = 25.2 |Sep mean C = 21.0 |Oct mean C = 15.9 |Nov mean C = 9.5 |Dec mean C = 4.4 |year mean C = 14.0 |Jan low C = −1.6 |Feb low C = −1.0 |Mar low C = 2.1 |Apr low C = 7.4 |May low C = 12.1 |Jun low C = 15.4 |Jul low C = 18.1 |Aug low C = 18.0 |Sep low C = 14.2 |Oct low C = 9.5 |Nov low C = 5.3 |Dec low C = 0.8 |year low C = 8.4 |precipitation colour = green |Jan rain mm= 40 |Feb rain mm= 35 |Mar rain mm= 31 |Apr rain mm= 46 |May rain mm= 59 |Jun rain mm= 67 |Jul rain mm= 43 |Aug rain mm= 36 |Sep rain mm= 34 |Oct rain mm= 41 |Nov rain mm= 54 |Dec rain mm= 53 |year rain mm=539

|source 1 = Stringmeteo.com |date=February 2012}}

Culture

The town hosts the annual folk festival and competition Slaveevi Noshti, which takes place every Spring during the months of May and June. The festival is held at the "Slaveeva Reka" Recreational Park, and it celebrates traditional dance and folk music from across Bulgaria.

Demography

The town of Aytos has 18,974 inhabitants as of December 2021. Most inhabitants are ethnic Bulgarians (68%), followed by large Turkish (17%) and Roma minorities (14%).

| title=Ethnic groups in the town of Aytos (2011 census) | titlebar=#ddd | left1=Ethnic group | right1=Percentage | float=right | bars=

Sports

Established in the early '50s, the famous Aytos Sports Academy “Vihar” has produced many national and international gymnastics champions, including three-time international champion Silviya Kostova. The Academy has a football team as well - "Vihar Aytos".

Recreation and tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Aytos_City_Sign.jpg" caption="The eagle statue and city sign at the entrance to Aytos"] ::

Natural landmarks

  • Recreation Park "Slaveeva Reka" ("Nightingale's River") — Few towns in Bulgaria can boast parks as big as "Slaveeva Reka" park. The park also hosts the Aytos Animal Zoo.
  • Rock Formation "Trite Bratya" ("The Three Brothers")
  • Natural Reserve "Kazanite"
  • Natural Reserve "Hisarya"
  • State Forest "Koriata"

Historical landmarks

  • Ancient Fortress "Aetos"
  • Aitoski Historical Pass — Connecting the ancient lands of Thrace and Moesia
  • St. Dimitrii Solunski Orthodox Church
  • Aitos Mineral Baths

Cultural landmarks

  • Ethnographic Complex "Genger" — A small Etara-like ethnographic center built in the traditional local architectural style. The complex has a variety of different traditional Bulgarian arts and crafts shops as well as a traditional hotel, taverns, cafes and restaurants.
  • Museum of "Peter Stanev"
  • Theater "Vasil Levski"

Notable people

Honour

Aytos Point on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for Aytos.

References

References

  1. "Население по области, общини, местоживеене и пол | Национален статистически институт".
  2. [http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/bg_climate.php?pr=&n=1 Климатични данни за избрани български станции (1961-1990г., "Месечен бюлетин на НИМХ"+)], Stringmeteo.com (in Bulgarian) Retrieved February 23, 2012.

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