Near the site of Hamanli in Late Antiquity, during the early 4th-century Cibalensean War, the Battle of Mardia was fought between the Roman emperors Licinius and Constantine the Great.

The climate of the area is temperate continental, which determines the variety of the vegetative types, some of which pertain to the evergreen groups (south of Harmanli).

It is located 270 km from the capital Sofia The first historical records of it date back to 1530,[citation needed] with the memoirs of Benedit Kuripešič, who would sojourn there as an interpreter in his mission.

A historic fountain was built in the place called White-legged Girl's Spring (Turkish: Ak baldır çeşmesi), half an hour way from the bridge.

Another legend revolves about the story of boyar Valkashin or Vukasin, father of the legendary Krali Marko, who was killed near this spring fighting the Ottoman sultan Murad.