Svilengrad

Svilengrad is a town in Haskovo Province in southeastern Bulgaria, and the administrative centre of Svilengrad Municipality. It lies on the Maritsa River at the tripoint where Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece meet, about 2 km north of the Greek border and 14 km northwest of the Turkish border, with the Turkish city of Edirne roughly 30 km to the east. The town's position near two international borders has shaped its development: the main road and railway routes between Bulgaria and Turkey pass through the area, customs, freight transport and other border services are important to the local economy, and the Kapitan Andreevo crossing southeast of the town is one of the principal road crossings between the two countries. A settlement called Jesir Mustafa Pasha grew up around a bridge over the Maritsa built in 1529 and became a town in the second half of the 16th century, and the name Svilengrad has been used only since 1913. The surrounding lowlands have a warm climate and are farmed, including vineyards and fruit growing. A 2025 estimate gives the town 16,302 inhabitants.