MUNICIPALITY OF BLAGOEVGRAD

Municipality of Blagoevgrad is the largest by population and third by territory in the Blagoevgrad region (an area of 621 sq. km.; 76 812 inhabitants). Blagoevgrad Municipality is located in the Southwest of Bulgaria, at the western part of the Rila-Rhodope mountain massif and is composed of 26 villages. Municipal center, the city of Blagoevgrad (70 259 inhabitants) is located in the valley of the Struma River, at 360 meters of altitude, near the south-western slopes of Rila Mountain, on main road E-79, and on 100 km south of Sofia. The town is located on 20 kilometers from the border with Macedonia, 100 km from the border with Greece and 250 km from Thessaloniki. Through the city passes the river Blagoevgradska Bistritsa.
  
The municipality has 30 mineral springs with temperature up to 55 °C, whose water is used to treat chronic diseases of the peripheral nervous system, gynecological problems, rheumatism, etc. The main attraction for the city is the old quarter “Varosha” together with the adjacent Church “Vavedenie Bogorodichno”, which was declared a national monument, the house of George Izmirliev – Makedoncheto, revolutionary in the April revolt, the Regional History Museum and the National Park “Rila” Department. The Varosha quarter was declared a cultural monument.