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Aytos
Aytos Location of Aytos
Coordinates: 42°42′N 27°15′E / 42.7, 27.25
Country	Bulgaria
Provinces (Oblast)	Burgas
Government
- Mayor	Evgeni Vrabchev
Elevation	95 m (312 ft)
Population (2005)
- Total	25,030
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	8500
Area code(s)	0558

Aytos, sometimes written Ajtos (Bulgarian: Айтос, Greek/Thracian: Αετός, Aetós, Turkish: Aydos) is a town located in the eastern part of Bulgaria, belonging to the administrative boundaries of Burgas Province.

Contents 1 History 2 Transport 3 Culture 4 Sports 5 Recreation and tourism 5.1 Natural landmarks 5.2 Historical landmarks 5.3 Local's landmarks 5.4 Cultural landmarks 6 Famous citizens 7 External links

Aytos and municipality have a rich and long history dating back to antiquity. An old settlement founded by Thracian tribes, archeological finds near the town testify that Aytos' existence dates back to the 5th century BC. According to an ancient Thracian legend, Aetos – one of Orpheus’ students and followers, founded the town. Throughout the centuries, the town has been known under different names including Aetos, Astos, Idos, Akvilia, 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 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 peace was signed in Odrin in 1829, many of the town's citizens fled to Bessarabia to join the Bessarabian Bulgarians.

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

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

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.

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

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 popular soccer team as well, "Vihar Aytos".

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

• Ancient Fortress "Aetos"
• Aytoski Historical Prohod — Connecting the ancient lands of Thrace and Moesia
• St. Dimitar Orthodox Church
• Aytos Mineral Baths

• Cafe "HEAVEN"
• Bar "ART CLUB"
• Local "FASHION"
• And other's Local's

• 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 the Painter "Peter Stanev"
• Theatre "Vasil Levksi"

• Filip Kutev — composer, founder of the Bulgarian National Ensemble & Choir
• Petar Stanev — painter
• Georgi Popgeorgiev — painter, founder of the Young Bulgarian Painters Society
• Panayot Panayotov — singer
• Eva Kirilova — singer from Tonika
• Pencho Peev — poet
• Rositsa Zhivkova — poet
• Tatyana Yotova — poet
• Hristo Tanev — sculptor
• Sava Tanev — sculptor
• Hristo Kolev — sound engineer
• Georgi Tenev
• Jovi Tenev - Federal Prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice

• Aytos Municipality (broken)

v • d • e Cities and towns in Bulgaria

Aytos • Asenovgrad • Blagoevgrad • Botevgrad • Burgas • Dimitrovgrad • Dobrich • Dupnitsa • Elena • Gabrovo • Gorna Oryahovitsa • Gotse Delchev • Harmanli • Haskovo • Karlovo • Karnobat • Kazanlak • Kardzhali • Koprivshtitsa • Kyustendil • Lom • Lovech • Montana • Nova Zagora • Panagyurishte • Pazardzhik • Pernik • Petrich • Pleven • Plovdiv • Popovo • Razgrad • Rousse • Samokov • Sandanski • Sevlievo • Shumen • Silistra • Sliven • Smolyan • Sofia • Stara Zagora • Svishtov • Targovishte • Troyan • Varna • Veliko Tarnovo • Velingrad • Vidin • Vratsa • Yambol • Zlataritsa

v • d • e Municipalities of Burgas Province
Aitos • Burgas • Kameno • Karnobat • Malko Tarnovo • Nesebar • Pomorie • Primorsko • Ruen • Sozopol • Sredets • Sungurlare • Tsarevo

Coordinates: 42°42′N, 27°15′E