Straldzha is a town in Yambol Province, about 20 km north-east of Yambol, 30 km east of Sliven and 23 km west of Karnobat. It has about 4,900 inhabitants (NSI, end of 2025) and is the third-largest town in the province after Yambol and Elhovo. It lies on the roads that link the Black Sea coast with the interior, and northern with southern Bulgaria.
There are traces of a Thracian and a medieval settlement in the town’s lands. The area fell to the Ottomans in 1373, and the first document to mention Straldzha dates from 1610. A Russian map of 1829 marks the village with 75 houses. To its north once lay the largest marsh in Bulgaria — about 14 km long and up to 10 km wide. Several legends explain the name; one links it to the Monastery of St Michael the Archangel, "Israildzha" in Turkish.
By car from Yambol it is about 25 km (around half an hour), from Sliven about 40 km and from Burgas about 85 km. From Sofia the road is about 315 km.
Yambol, the Blue Rocks Nature Park above Sliven, and Karandila hut.
Yambol region
19.7 km away
Sliven region
28.8 km away
Yambol region
29.2 km away
Straldzha is located in Yambol, Bulgaria.
Straldzha is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Straldzha can be visited year-round, but late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the most pleasant weather and fewer tourists. Summer is the busiest season; winter is the quietest, with shorter daylight and possible cold weather.
Bulgarian settlements typically reward unhurried walking — historic centres, churches and monasteries, local markets, and family-run restaurants serving regional dishes. Larger towns often have museums and seasonal cultural events. The local tourist information centre is a good first stop for current opening hours and what's on.
