BLAGOEVGRAD
Location and transport accessibility:
Blagoevgrad is one of the largest towns in Southwestern
Bulgaria. It is situated at the foot of the southwestern
slopes of Rila mountain, on both banks of Blagoevgradska
Bistritza river, within the river-basin of the big
Bulgarian river Struma. It is located 101km. to the
south of Sofia, at 53 km. to the northwest of Razlog,
and at 65 km. to the north of Sandanski. The town is
considered to be the main centre of Bulgarian Pirin
Macedonia.
There are 30 mineral springs with temperature up to 55
C. This makes it a spa resort. It is a regional center
as well.
Blagoevgrad is a major and important transport centre in
this part of Bulgaria. It is the main stop on the
international highway and railway line
Sofia-Kulata-Athens. It maintains regular bus connection
with the capital Sofia and many of the towns in
Southwestern Bulgaria, as well as with the villages in
the region. The bus station (tel.: +359 73/22348, 23750)
and the railway station (tel.: +359 73/22286, 23695,
22174) are situated close to each other at the
south-west end of the town.
BANSKO
Location and transport accessibility:
The town of Bansko ( population 9 134) is situated at
925 m. above the sea level at the northeastern foot of
Pirin beneath the highest and the most beautiful Karst
part of the mountain. It is 160 km. south of Sofia, 60
km. southeast of Blagoevgrad, and at 6 km. south of
Razlog. Bansko is one of the biggest winter resorts in
the country. If you add to this its architectural and
historical value, Bansko is the pearl in the Bulgarian
necklace.
The basic type of transport that connects the town to
the rest of the country is the bus transport. There are
regular bus lines to Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev
and Razlog. The central bus station is modern and huge.
It is located in the eastern end of the town (+359
7443/2441, 2420)
Telephone code - +3597443
Postal code – 2770
Dobrinishte is the most famous balneological resort in
Pirin mountain. According to the natives the village
takes its name because of the “good things” the God gave
them – magnificent nature, mineral springs, etc. The
village is located only at the distance of 6 km. to the
east of Bansko. It is one of the largest villages in the
country with a population of over 3000 inhabitants. From
ancient times it is famous with its mineral springs.
There are 17 mineral springs with water temperature
between 30 and 43 C, as well as a big mineral public
bath. The mineral water is with slight mineralization.
The resort is recommended for balneo and climate
treatment. The natural wealth and the equipment, as well
as the near ski runs of Bezbog peak, make the resort one
of the most visited mountain resorts. There are a lot of
healing establishments, and open pool with hot mineral
water.
BELICA
Location and transport accessibility:
The town of Belitsa (3 745 inhabitants) is situated
at the distance of 178 km of Sofia and 76 km of
Blagoevgrad.
The mild Mediterranean climate is favorable for the
healing of pulmonary diseases. There is a health school
for such of disorders. The unique Dancing bears park is
situated 12 km away from the town. It is the first one
at the Balkans and in East Europe.
Òhe incredible nature and rich historical and cultural
heritage, the preserved folklore and native crafts
(knitting, weaving, icon-painting, wood-carving) the
original cuisine and cozy lodgings, the resort of
Semkovo (15 km of the town) contribute for development
of eco and rural tourism.
GOCE DELCHEV
Location and transport accessibility:
The Gotse Delchev municipality encompasses an area of
315.8 sq, km in the southwest part of Bulgaria. It
borders the municipalities of Hajidimovo, Garmen, Bansko
and Sandanski.
The town of Gotse Delchev is situated in the Gotse
Delchev Hollow, at the southwest foot of the Middle
Pirin Mountain, along both banks of the Nevrokopska
(Gradska) River - a tributary to the Mesta River, which
flows 3 km west of the town.There is no railway station
in Gotse Delchev – the nearest one is that of
Dobrinishte.
The village of Kovachevica is tucked away between the
ridges in the remotest south-western corner of the
Rhodopes, 25km north-east of the town of Gotze Delchev.
Kovachevitza is simply out of this world – so very
detached from the modern-day surroundings. It is like a
piece of Heaven created by Mother Nature and moulded by
the deft hands of the local craftsmen – master-builders,
stone-masons and wood-carvers.
In Kovachevitza you can feast your eyes on a variety of
Nature’s gifts gathered in one place – picturesque
canyons, a crystal-clear river, thick forests,
incredibly fresh and cool, towering peaks offering
breath-taking views. All this will transport you to the
long-forgotten days of the past.
A few of the old houses have been turned into hotels
offering the specialties of the original Rhodope
cuisine.
The village’s dwellers number 50 people. The settlement
is about 1050m above sea level. Its climate is moderate,
with a mild winter (as the breath of the Aegean is felt
coming from the south) and a cool summer, provided by
the freshness of the surrounding coniferous forests.
Nearby winds the Kanina River, renown for its three deep
ponds, the abundance of mountain trout and its
magnificent waterfalls, cascading like glittering silver
from dizzy heights. Its charming, narrow, cobblestone
streets and the unadorned beauty of its proud, tall
white-facade houses with stone-slab roofs and huddled
whispering eaves, are a unique example of the Bulgarian
architectural genius.
PETRICH
Location and transport accessibility:
Petrich municipality is situated in the southern part of
Blagoevgrad county and in the southwestern part of
Bulgaria on an area of 650 000 decares. It is bordered
no the northeast by Sandanski municipality and on the
north - by Srumyani municipality. To the west and to the
south there are state borderlines borders - respectively
with Macedonia and Greece. Petrich municipality is an
active Balkan and European cross-road between two seas -
it is 90 km far from Solon port at the White Sea, where
Bulgaria has an independent sector for commercial
exchange on the Mediterranean sea and 380 km. far from
Valyora port in Albania on the Adriatic Sea.
The village of Rupite is situated in the valley of
Petrich and Sandaski. It is about 8km faraway from the
town of Petrich on the north-east and 20km south-west
from Melnik. Rupite has its name after the picturesque
countryside around the village.
RAZLOG
Location and transport accessibility:
Razlog (13 403 inhabitants, 825 m above sea level) is
located in the so called Razlojka valley, in the “hug”
of 3 mountains – Rila to the north, Pirin to the south,
and the Rhodopes to the east. It is intimately hugged
between two hills –Golak to the north and Sarovitza to
the south. Nearby flows the Mesta River. The town of
Razlog is 155 km away from Sofia, 53 km southwest of
Blagoevgrad, 141 km southwest of Plovdiv and 6 km north
of Bansko.
The sightseeing tour of Razlog is a pleasant and
interesting experience. 41 residential houses of the
revival architectural style, of the Razlog-Chepino house
type have the qualities of monuments of culture. They
are mostly at Macedonia square and in Vuzrajdane Street.
SANDANSKI
Location and transport accessibility:
Sandanski municipality is situated in the
south-western part of Bulgaria and it covers a territory
of 1060 sq. m. which includes a big part of the
picturesque Sandansko-Pertichka valley along the middle
course of Stryama river and the western and
south-western slopes of the three ridges of Pirin, the
northern slopes of Slavyanka mountain and the lowest
foothill regions of Malashevska mountain and Ograjden
moutain. The town of Sandanski is famous with the best
natural public health for bronchial asthma in Europe. It
is popular for its mineral springs, mild climate,
variety of places of interest and old-centuries cultural
heritage.
Transport in the town of Sandanski is as it follows:
1. Railway Transport
Railway station, the town of Sandanski is 4,5 km from
the centre of the town. There is a loading platform, as
well as a crane for loading and unloading.
2. Road transport
1,6 km far from the centre of Sandanski passes a main
road Å 79.
There is a transport between towns and villages,
connecting the railway with the sanatorium and the
residential areas near by the town. The bus transport
provides a link of the town of Sandanski with the town
of Blagoevvgrad and the capital Sofia, as well as with
the town of Kyustendil, the town of Samokov, the town of
Petrich and others. Almost during the whole day (10
hours) a two-way bus trip from Sandanski to Blagoevgrad
and Sofia is provided.
There are 77 companies in Sandanski municipality which
provide taxi services.
The bus carriers are: State company "Start Mobil",
"Rumen Pachov" SBCo, "Dutseto - Nikola Kontliiski" SBCo
and the association of private bus carriers
"Sandanski-5" LTD.
Bus station - tel: +359746 22130
Railway station - tel: +359746 22213
Melnik is the most significant monument of
culture of the Medieval and the Revival period, the
historical architectural Melnik reserve. The town of
Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria, is situated among
the scenery of Earth Pyramids of Melnik in the
south-western slopes of the southern part of Pirin. The
town of Melnik and the nearby Rozhen monastery (founded
in XIII -XIV century ) have been promulgated for a
natural cultural and historical reserve.
The town is situated at the distance of 24 km from the
town of Sandanski and is linked through an asphalt road
(12km) to the international road Sofia-Athens. There are
regular bus connection with Petrich, Blagoevgrad and
Sofia. The nearest railway station, Damyanitsa, on the
Sofia-Koulata railway line is at the distance of 12km.
YAKORUDA
Location and transport accessibility:
Almost for everyone the town of Yakoruda is connected
with Treshtenik tourist complex is located in a
picturesque region on the southern slopes of the Eastern
Rila Mountains at 1695M among extensive meadows and
spruce forests. Treshtenik itself can be found 14KM
north of Yakorouda and 150KM from Sofia.
How to get here:
Route 1
Sofia - Simitli (along E79) - Razlog - Yakorouda -
Treshtenik.
Route 2
Sofia - Kostenets - Bellovo - Yundola - Yakorouda -
Treshtenik
On a clear day, a beautiful panoramic view of
Rhodoppi villages and the high mountain peaks of Pirin
and Rila reveals itself.
In the vicinity of Treshtenik, outstanding opportunities
exist for all-year-round short outings and holidays.
Treshtenik is a convenient starting point for many of
the hiking routes through the Rila Mountains. |
