Die längste Fußgängerzone Europas ist kurz vor dem Wachsen, da Bulgariens Plovdiv die Fußgängerzone des angrenzenden Boulevards genehmigt

Expanding pedestrian zones isn’t just urban planning, it’s a statement about prioritizing people over traffic, and Plovdiv’s move shows how cities can reclaim space for community, not just convenience.

„pedestrian zone“ is such a weird concept.

Here you get a place where you can do your pedestrian things. Please don’t bother the cars in other parts of the city with your flesh legs, thank you! /s

Unrelated, but pic immediately made me think of Assassins Creed, just missing a pile of hay in the middle and maybe some wires across the street.

After over a decade of debates and delays, Plovdiv finally moves to pedestrianise part of „Ivan Vazov“ boulevard west of the central square, bringing the pedestrian city core closer to the main train station. Plovdiv’s „Glavnata“ already claimed to be Europe’s longest pedestrian street after previous extensions placed it almost a kilometre ahead of Copenhagen’s famous Strøget.

More information in Bulgarian (Chrome’s translate function should work): https://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/gradove/plovdiv/2025/08/07/4816403_nai-dulgata_peshehodna_zona_v_bulgariia_shte_stane/

Non-paywalled article: https://podtepeto.com/aktualno/ulicza-ivan-vazov-skoro-stava-peshehodna-do-bibliotekata/

Image of „Glavnata“ („Main street“) from Wikipedia.

Terrible news 🙁

I’m going to be honest with you.

I really enjoy saying the name _Plovdiv_.

I’ve heard that if you want to marry a bride from Plovdiv, you should go through the whole central pedestrian street, at 15 o’clock, without having water, in the middle of the summer, to prove you are worthy.

The biggest pedestrian zone is whole centre of Ljubljana, Slovenia which is car free.