Razgrad is situated in the eastern hilly part of the Danubian Plain by the River of Beli Lom. The town grew on the remains of the ancient Roman town of Abritus (pic.1) some of which can be still seen in the Hisarlaka locality. The name of the settlement in the Middle Ages was Hrazgrad or Hrisgrad. There are many interpretations of this name. Some scholars believe it derives from the word “cross”. Others insist that the town was named after the local ruler Hras or Hrisate, son of Tsar Boris I.
The Roman town was founded in the 1st century on the place of an old Thracian settlement. In the year 251 it was the battleground of fierce fights between Roman troops and Gothic tribes. The ancient town sprawling on 14 acres was protected with strong fortress walls and several 12 to 15- metre - high towers.

Even today one can admire the excellent town planning and the water supply and sewerage systems of the ancient town. The Archeological Museum, which is located at the entrance to the archeological excavations, attracts visitors with its collection of 20 ritual bas-reliefs, stall statues of gods and goddesses and the gold treasure of 835 gold coins dating back to the late Antiquity.

There were 7 mosques in Razgrad at the time when the town was a flourishing vakaf settlement. Well preserved nowadays are Ahmed Bay Mosque dating from 1442 and Ibrahim Pasha Mosque of 1616. The Clock Tower of 1764 has been restored and the clock is working. Once a centre of excellent craftsmen producing pottery, knives, wrought iron and fur clothes, today Razgrad is an important industrial centre. They key industries are the pharmaceutical, food, chemistry, rubber, porcelain, tiles and sanitary faience, textile industries and others.