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Southwestern Bulgaria >> Blagoevgrad
It is situated 101 km south of the capital city Sofia, 53 km north-west of Razlog, 65 km north of Sandanski. The town is the main centre of Bulgarian Macedonia. There are 30 mineral springs in catchment with temperature up to 55C. This makes it a spa resort. It is a regional administrative centre as well.
History. The town originated at the place of the ancient Thracian settlement Skaptopara, evidence of which we find in the notorious Skaptoparski inscription from 238. As the town of Gorna Dzhoumaya it was mentioned for the first time in 1502, and with the name Banya - in 1576. In the past, the town was an important roadside fortress. In 17th century, monks from the Rila Monastery opened a monastery school. During the second half of 18th and the beginning of the 19th century the town developed as a big centre of craftsmanship and commerce. After the Berlin Treaty, Gorna Dzhoumaya (until 1950 the town had this name) remained within the borders of Turkey and for this reason it turned into the cradle of resistance and people's unity. The population actively took part in the uprisings that followed. The town was liberated on 5th October 1912 (the Balkan War) and then had only 7000 inhabitants.
Landmarks. The Museum of History in Varosha Quarter (tel.: 073 29020, 21170, 29173), the house-museum of Georgj Izmirliev-Makedoncheto, Stoyan Sotirov Art Gallery, Stanislav Art Gallery, Petit Bizhou Art Gallery, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Church (Vuvedenie Bogorodichno), as well as the Revival houses in Varosha Quarter. There are monuments to llyo Voivoda, Gotse Delchev, R K. Yavorov, Cyril and Methodius and to the Macedonian-Odrin volunteers, to those who were killed in the Balkan War (1912-1913). As a cultural centre Blagoevgrad has several theatres - Theatre of Drama (tel.: 073 23475), Puppet Theatre (Varosha Quarter, phone 073 21080, 22210), Chamber Opera House (tel.: 073 20703. The town is a university centre - American University, Neofit Rilski Southwestern University. Blagoevgrad is famous with its beautiful and functional town centre, all laid out in marble.
Accommodation. The accommodation facilities are not sufficient. Only several hotels are available - the 3-star Alen Mak Hotel at the central town square (1, St. St. Cyril and Methodius Street), Bor Hotel and Riltsi Motel - 2 km north of the town, by the motorway to Sofia. There are enough catering facilities, offering original Bulgarian cuisine.
Tourist information: Tourist Information Centre, 2770 Blagoevgrad, Varosha Quarter, tel./fax 073 65458, 36795, e-mail: scabrin@pop3.aubg.bg /Pirin Tourist House/ ; Council on Tourism (2700 Blagoevgrad, 1, Georgi Izmirliev Square, tel.: 073 65459, 23133); Bureau for Complex Tourist Services, located at the central town square (1, St. St. Cyril and Methodius Square, tel.: 073 23218); Pirin Tourist Forum (tel./fax: 073 65458); Orbita Chain for Youth Tourism (6, Trakiya Street, tel.: 073 23267, 22583, fax: 073 25516); Travel Bite Agency for Students' and Youth' Travel (9, St. St.Cyril and Methodius Street, tel.: 073 36917, 36918). There are many other tourist travel agencies. Aigidik Tourist Association (1, Vassil Levski Street, tel.: 073 26839, 26939).
Transport. Blagoevgrad is a major and important transport centre in this part of Bulgaria. It is the main stop on the international motorway and railway line Sofia-Koulata-Athens. It maintains regular bus connections with Sofia and many of the towns in Southwestern Bulgaria, as well as with the villages in the region. It has a regular bus line to the Bulgarian sanctuary - The Rila Monastery. The bus station (tel.: 073 22348, 23750) and the railway station (tel.: 073 22286, 23695, 22174) are situated close to each other at the southwestern end of the town. Blagoevgrad has a developed and well-organized bus transport within the town.
Surrounding areas. At 3.5 km to the northeast, in the valley of Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River is located the Bachinovo Park, where, annually, in June, a town festival is held. In the same valley, 30 km away from the town, in Northwestern Rila the Bodrost Resort is situated, with many recreation houses, bungalows, and villas. At 5 km distance from the resort is the oldest reserve park for coniferous species of trees in Bulgaria - Parangalitsa. There is the highest tree in our country - a 60-metre spruce. From Bodrost Resort, marked trails set out to various destinations in Rila - Macedonia Chalet (3-4 hours), Chakalitsa Chalet (2-3 hours), Tsarev Vruh (2 hours). In the summer, a regular bus line is maintained between the town and the resort. Town bus line No. 4 can be taken opposite the railway station to the village of Hursovo, from where on foot, along a marked trail the Chakalitsa Chalet can be reached for about 5-6 hours. 16 km north of Blagoevgrad and several km before the town of Rila is situated the village of Stob with the famous nearby pyramids of Stob - exceptionally beautiful and elegant earthen pyramids, finished with rounded rocky blocks. They are moulded in up to 40 meters thick reddish drifts. They are called in different ways - Samodivski Komini (Nymphs' Chimneys), Kouklite (the Dolls), Zuberite (the Pinnacles), Choukite (Rocky Peaks), Bratyata (The Brothers), Svatovete (In-laws), etc. Several regular bus lines pass through the village of Stob on their way to the town of Rila and the Rila Monastery. Other interesting sights around Blagoevgrad: The antique fortress by the village of Klissoura; an ancient settlement, a necropolis and a late antique fortress - close to the Bodrost Resort; another late antique fortress - at about several kilometers from the village Selishte. There are remains of antique fortresses near the village of Gabrovo. There is a medieval fortress between the town and the village of Tserovo. The Ascension of Christ Church near the village of Pokrovnik, the St. Archangel Mihail Church and remains from a late antique fortress near the village of Leshko, the St. Ivan the Precursor Church and St. Georgi Church (built in 1861, presently a monument of culture) in the village of Bistritsa. The rock Markov Kamuk to the south of Mt. Tsarev Vruh. Chernata Skala (The Black rock) - over the right bank of Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River nearby Macedonia chalet.
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Central Southern Bulgaria
Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa, Pazardzhik, Koprivshtitsa, Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer, Hissarya - spa resort, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Chepelare, Smolyan, Devin, Pavel Banya, Kazanluk, Stara Zagora, Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzhali | Southeastern Bulgaria
Svilengrad, Elhovo, Yambol, Sliven, Kotel, Karnobat, Aitos, Malko Turnovo | Northwestern Bulgaria
Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Belogradchik, Vidin, Kozlodui, Oriahovo, Montana, Vratsa, Mezdra, Botevgrad, Etropole, Yablanitza, Cherven bryag, Loukovit, Lom | Central Northern Bulgaria
Teteven, Troyan, Apriltzi, Lovech, Pleven, Nikopol, Svishtov, Pavlikeni, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Byala, Rousse | Southwestern Bulgaria
Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Bansko ski resort, Razlog, Blagoevgrad, Doupnitsa, Samokov, Kyustendil, Pernik, Pirdop and Zlatitsa, Panagyurishte, Kostenets, Velingrad | Northeastern Bulgaria
Pliska, Shoumen, Veliki Preslav, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Toutrakan, Silistra, Dobrich, Provadia | Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Shabla, Roussalka, Kavarna, Balchik, Albena, Zlatni Pyasutsi (GOLDEN SANDS), St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna, Kamchia, Obzor, Elenite, Slunchev Bryag (SUNNY BEACH), Nessebar, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Dyuni, Primorsko, Kiten, Tsarevo, Ahtopol | Bulgarian Mountains
Rila, Rila Monastery, Borovetz, Malyovitza, Pirin, Melnik and The Rozhen Monastery, Shiligarnika, Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountain), KOM - Emine Route, The Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Vitosha |
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