Chitalishte Rodolyubie

Founded in the autumn of 1873, when the town was still called Stanimaka, this reading society first carried the name Rodopa, after the mountain at its back. A circle of local enthusiasts assembled it around a donated shelf of seventy books, with Dimitar Tankov as its first chairman; a folk university was added in 1937, and in 1944 a bequest of three thousand volumes enlarged the library beyond recognition. The present, larger building opened in 1961, and the name Rodolyubie was adopted two years later. Piano, classical ballet, vocal singing, drawing and folk dance are taught in its rooms, and its hall serves Asenovgrad as concert room and theatre alike.