Simitli
Encyclopedia
Simitli is a small city in Blagoevgrad Province
in southwestern Bulgaria
. It has a population of 7,454 and is located 17 km south of Blagoevgrad
.
The city of Simitli lies at the crossroads for the turn to Bansko
and Pirin
Mountains off the Sofia
-Thessaloníki
E-79
. Geographical locations of note are the Komatinski Cliffs between Brestovo
and Sushitsa
, the Kresna Gorge
of the Struma River
, and the foothills of the Pirin Mountains at Senokos
.
to the Greek Border. Simitli is also part of the Bulgarian State Railways
network from Greece to Sofia. Simitli is also the intersection of E-79 and the road to Bansko and the Pirin Mountains.
and Pernik
's own Kukeri
Festivals.
Simitli Point
on Rugged Island
in the South Shetland Islands
, Antarctica is named after Simitli.
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...
in southwestern Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. It has a population of 7,454 and is located 17 km south 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....
.
Geography
Bansko
Bansko is a town and a popular ski resort in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains at an elevation of 925 m above sea level....
and Pirin
Pirin
The Pirin Mountains are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with Vihren the highest peak, situated at . The range extends about 40 km northwest-southeast, and about 25 km wide. Most of the range is protected in the Pirin National Park...
Mountains off the 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...
-Thessaloníki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
E-79
European route E79
European route E 79 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Miskolc, Hungary and ends in Thessaloniki, Greece, also running through Romania and Bulgaria...
. Geographical locations of note are the Komatinski Cliffs between Brestovo
Brestovo, Blagoevgrad Province
Brestovo, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Simitli, in Blagoevgrad Province, in southwestern Bulgaria....
and Sushitsa
Sushitsa, Blagoevgrad Province
Sushitsa, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Simitli, in Blagoevgrad Province, in southwestern Bulgaria....
, the Kresna Gorge
Kresna Gorge
The Kresna Gorge is a stunning steep valley in southwestern Bulgaria. The Struma River, which stems off of Vitosha mountains, is what formed this spectacular site. The gorge is rich in biodiversity, which may be in danger of the project to build the Struma Motorway, which is part of Trans European...
of the 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 the foothills of the Pirin Mountains at Senokos
Senokos, Blagoevgrad Province
Senokos, Blagoevgrad Province is a village in the municipality of Simitli, in Blagoevgrad Province, in southwestern Bulgaria.Senokos Nunatak on Trinity Peninsula in Antarctica is named after the village....
.
Transportation
Simitli lies on E-79 which connects SofiaSofia
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...
to the Greek Border. Simitli is also part of the Bulgarian State Railways
Bulgarian State Railways
The Bulgarian State Railways are Bulgaria's state railway company and the largest railway carrier in the country, established as an entity in 1885. The company's headquarters are located in the capital Sofia. Since the 1990s the BDZ has met serious competition from automotive transport...
network from Greece to Sofia. Simitli is also the intersection of E-79 and the road to Bansko and the Pirin Mountains.
Tourism
Some of the best whitewater rapids in the Balkans can be found on the Struma river in the Kresna Gorge. The rafting and kayaking season is from April to July and there is guided rafting every weekend. Simitli is also part of the EuroCup circuit for the European Rafting Federation every year. Every second weekend of January, there is a Kukeri or Surva festival held in the local stadium by E-79 which rivals RazlogRazlog
Razlog is a town and ski resort in Razlog Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria. It is situated in the Razlog Valley and was first mentioned during the reign of Byzantine emperor Basil II....
and Pernik
Pernik
Pernik is a city in western Bulgaria with a population of 81,052 . It is the main city of Pernik Province and lies on both banks of the Struma River in the Pernik Valley between the Viskyar, Vitosha and Golo Bardo mountains.Originally the site of a Thracian fortress founded in the 4th century BC,...
's own Kukeri
Kukeri
Kukeri is a traditional Bulgarian ritual to scare away evil spirits, with a costumed man performing the ritual. The costumes cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals and large bells attached to the belt...
Festivals.
Municipality
Simitli is the administrative centre of Simitli municipality (part of Blagoevgrad Province), which includes the following eighteen places:
|
Simitli Point
Simitli Point
Simitli Point is a point on the north coast of Rugged Island off the west coast of Byers Peninsula of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica forming the east side of the entrance to Timok Cove...
on Rugged Island
Rugged Island (South Shetland Islands)
Rugged Island is an island long and wide, lying west of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands. Surface area . The island's summit San Stefano Peak rises to above sea level. Rugged Island is located at...
in the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
, Antarctica is named after Simitli.
External links
- www.senokos.com | Tourism website for village Senokos
- www.ternipe-simitli.org | Website for local Roma NGO that creates monthly magazine for Simitli
- www.hoteldimario.com | Website for Hotel DiMario, a local hotel in Simitli