Blagoevgrad Municipality
Encyclopedia
Blagoevgrad Municipality is the most populated municipality in Blagoevgrad Province
. It includes Blagoevgrad
and 25 villages with population of 77 441 (2011).
with area of 620.12 km2.It borders with Kyustendil Province
in the north, Razlog Municipality
in the east, Simitli Municipality in the south and Republic of Macedonia
in the west. The municipality is laying in the western part of the Rila
mountain and the northern part of the valley of Struma river
, 100 km from Sofia
in the north and Kulata
in the south on the international road E79.
form the water resources of the region. The snow-melting during the spring and the summer in Rila
and Vlahina
increases the river debit. The Bistrica river flows through Blagoevgrad
and Struma river goes west of the town. There are thirty hot mineral springs in the municipality, even in Blagoevgrad.
. The mountainous villages are very sparsely populated.
and the western parts of Blagoevgrad
alongside with Struma river
and connects the region with Sofia
on the north and Greece
in the south. There is a parallel railway, which leads to Greece, but now due to the policy of the Greek rail operator there are no trains between Sofia and Athens. There is also a road connection with Republic of Macedonia
via Logodazh
.
The fourth class municipal roads need improvement.
Blagoevgrad has two bus stations and a train station situated in the western part of the town. Buses connect Blagoevgrad with Sofia, Plovdiv, Sandanski, Petrich, Goce Delchev, Kyustendil, Dupnitsa and other destinations in the region as well as most of the villages in the municipality. There are international bus lines to Greece
and Republic of Macedonia
. Trains connect the municipality with Sofia, Pernik, Dupnitsa and Sandanski and other smaller settlements alongside Struma river
. There is a train stop in Belo Pole
, train station in Blagoevgrad
and another train stop in the southern part of Blagoevgrad.
Agriculture and forestry are important parts of the regional economy too.
Blagoevgrad Province
Blagoevgrad Province , also known as Pirin Macedonia , is a province of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, Greece to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns...
. It includes Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
and 25 villages with population of 77 441 (2011).
Geography
Blagoevgrad municipality is situated in the northwestern part of Blagoevgrad ProvinceBlagoevgrad Province
Blagoevgrad Province , also known as Pirin Macedonia , is a province of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, Greece to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns...
with area of 620.12 km2.It borders with Kyustendil Province
Kyustendil Province
-Religion:Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:-Language:Mother tongues in the province according to 2001 census:* 153,242 Bulgarian * 7,929 Roma * 1363 others and unspecified -Ethnic groups:...
in the north, Razlog Municipality
Razlog Municipality
Razlog Municipality is located in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. It has 22,124 inhabitants .The town of Razlog is the administrative centre.Places include:-References:...
in the east, Simitli Municipality in the south and Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
in the west. The municipality is laying in the western part of the Rila
Rila
Rila is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m...
mountain and the northern part of the valley of Struma river
Struma River
The Struma or Strymónas is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymōn . Its catchment area is 10,800 km²...
, 100 km from Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
in the north and Kulata
Kulata
Kulata is a village in Petrich municipality, Blagoevgrad Province, in southwestern Bulgaria. it has 892 inhabitants and the mayor is Dimitar Manolev. The village is a major border checkpoint on the border with Greece...
in the south on the international road E79.
Climate
The climate is transitional-continental with strong Mediterranean influence and the weather is mild in the winter and hot in the summer in the valley of Struma river and in the lower parts - 80 % of the territory of the municipality. In the higher parts of the municipality the climate is mountainous - the other 20%.Nature
The most parts of the municipality are covered with forests. Small subsidiaries of Struma riverStruma River
The Struma or Strymónas is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymōn . Its catchment area is 10,800 km²...
form the water resources of the region. The snow-melting during the spring and the summer in Rila
Rila
Rila is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m...
and Vlahina
Vlahina
Vlahina or Vlaina , meaning "Vlach [mountain]" is a mountain range on the border of southwestern Bulgaria and eastern Republic of Macedonia. The highest peak is Ogreyak at 1,924 m. Nearby towns include Simitli to the northeast in Bulgaria and Pehchevo to the southwest in the Republic of Macedonia....
increases the river debit. The Bistrica river flows through Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
and Struma river goes west of the town. There are thirty hot mineral springs in the municipality, even in Blagoevgrad.
Population and settlements
The population of the municipality is 77,441, according to the last count in 2011 year. Men are 48%, women 52% of the population. The municipality is highly urbanized - 91 % of all the people live in BlagoevgradBlagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
. The mountainous villages are very sparsely populated.
Roads and transportation
The municipality has a very favorable location. E79 international road passes through Belo PoleBelo Pole, Blagoevgrad Province
Belo Pole, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Blagoevgrad, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria, 4.5 km northwest of the town on the main road E79 and the railway Sofia-Kulata, on the left bank of Struma river. Because of the closeness with Blagoevgrad it is connected with town's...
and the western parts of Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
alongside with Struma river
Struma River
The Struma or Strymónas is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymōn . Its catchment area is 10,800 km²...
and connects the region with Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
on the north and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in the south. There is a parallel railway, which leads to Greece, but now due to the policy of the Greek rail operator there are no trains between Sofia and Athens. There is also a road connection with Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
via Logodazh
Logodazh
Logodazh is a village in the municipality of Blagoevgrad, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. It is situated in the foothills of Vlahina mountain on the road between Blagoevgrad and Delčevo, Republic of Macedonia. Between 1959 and 1993 the village was named Stanke Lisichkovo to a partizan from the...
.
The fourth class municipal roads need improvement.
Blagoevgrad has two bus stations and a train station situated in the western part of the town. Buses connect Blagoevgrad with Sofia, Plovdiv, Sandanski, Petrich, Goce Delchev, Kyustendil, Dupnitsa and other destinations in the region as well as most of the villages in the municipality. There are international bus lines to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. Trains connect the municipality with Sofia, Pernik, Dupnitsa and Sandanski and other smaller settlements alongside Struma river
Struma River
The Struma or Strymónas is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymōn . Its catchment area is 10,800 km²...
. There is a train stop in Belo Pole
Belo Pole, Blagoevgrad Province
Belo Pole, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Blagoevgrad, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria, 4.5 km northwest of the town on the main road E79 and the railway Sofia-Kulata, on the left bank of Struma river. Because of the closeness with Blagoevgrad it is connected with town's...
, train station in Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
and another train stop in the southern part of Blagoevgrad.
Economy
There are few big industrial subjects in the municipality and they are concentrated in Blagoevgrad. Trade and services form significant part of the municipal economy. The presence of two universities and a lot of young people is boosting them and also providing qualified labor force.Agriculture and forestry are important parts of the regional economy too.