Welcome to Kyustendil

They call it the Cherry Garden of Bulgaria. It is full of pink and white cherry blossoms, the aroma of which flows from the warm wind called Kyustendil, where the different epochs meet, intertwine and lightly offer an amazing combination of Antiquity, Middle Ages and Renaissance. Situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, at the foot of Mount Osogovo, the city is spotted on both banks of the Banshitsa River.
The climate is transient continental with early spring, warm summer and not very cold winter. Many mineral springs with healing springs in its territory water. The settlement stands 86 km from the capital Sofia, 22 km from the border with the Republic of Macedonia and about 30 km from the border with the Republic of Serbia. The Romans are him called Pautalia, and after Mark Ulpi Traian gave it the status of a city, it was renamed Ulpia Pautalia. Until the fall of the city under Ottoman rule is within the limits of Bulgaria under the name Velbahid. After the Ottomans conquered it, they call it Kyustendil. It was their practice to name the conquered lands in the name of their last a Christian ruler, and the last one here was Konstantin Dragash - son of the Bulgarian ruler and despot Dejan Dragash.
There are plenty of places in Kyustendil that can make sense of your weekends. The first one to stop looking at is the lovely building of the municipality. It was built between 1889 and 1894 on a project by Friedrich Gryunanger.
Other interesting places are the museums:
- Regional History Museum "Academician Yordan Ivanov". It contains exhibits from the whole Kyustendil region, covering the period from 7th to 6th centuries BC. to 17 c.
- House Museum "Emfiezhiev's House". It dates back to the Renaissance. It houses a collection about the life and culture of Kyustendil from the end of the 19th and early 20th century
- House of Ilyo Voyvoda.
- Dimitar Peshev's House, which presents photographs, items, facsimiles related to the events of March 1943 and showing the merits of Dimitar Peshev and his fellow citizens for the rescue of Bulgarian Jews.
- House of the composer Georgi Goranov.
- Art Gallery "Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora", possessing the largest and most basic collection of his paintings. The gallery periodically arranges exhibitions of the other Kyustendil artists such as Stoyan Venev, Moritz Benficov, Nikola Mirchev, Asen Vasiliev. Along with the museums in the town there are preserved Roman and several bathrooms the Ottoman period. These are: The Roman baths, located in the central part of Kyustendil, to the Ahmed Bay Mosque, were built in the 2nd-3rd century as part of a large complex and are a monument of culture of national importance; "Dervish Bath", which was built in Turkey in 1566 and has been in operation for more than 400 years. In 2005 has been restored and is a monument of culture; later-medieval "Chifte Bath" and "Alay Bath" are no less exciting.
The hill "Hissarluka" is 2 km southeast of the town. Standing at its highest point you will see not only the smell of scents and greenery Kyustendil but also its symbol the ancient and medieval fortress "Hisarlaka". The fortress was built at the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th century. The first and most significant changes to it are relevant to the 6th century and are connected with the Byzantine Emperor Justinian First. She lived through the First and Second Bulgarian States, but was demolished by the Ottomans in the 15th century. It is currently a monument of culture of national importance.
Another Middle Age-related object is the Pygrove Tower. It is located in the central part of the city, next to the Roman Baths. Its name comes from the Greek word - "pygos", which means a tower. Walking through the streets of Kyustendil and inhaling the scent of the blooming cherry trees, you will see many temples. The city is the oldest preserved medieval church in Southwest Bulgaria "St. George", it is a type of "inscribed cross", and its dating can be attributed to the end of the 10th century and the beginning of the 11th century. Along with it and no less exciting are the Renaissance temples - "Uspenie Bogorodichno", located in the center, built in 1816, in place of the medieval church of St. Nicholas, it is active; St. Dimitar, located in the eastern part of the city built in 1866; "St. Mina" in the western part of Kyustendil, erected in 1859 and having an underground chapel with a holy spring. Here is one of the most impressive churches of Bulgaria "St. Martyr Mina". Built was in 1934, which was in effect.
There are two Fatih Mehmed mosques dating back to 1531, the Ahmed Bay, or Indji, the Christian, built in the middle of the 15th century in today's time is the exhibition hall of the museum in Kyustendil. There are plenty of Renaissance houses and monuments in the town. Here are the St. Cyril and St. Methodius Mutual School, is restored and known as the Kielino school, the Prokopi's House, the Doctors' House, Tonche Kadnomskyki's House, the flag of Ilyo Voyvoda, "The Master House", "House of Donna Kovacheva", where was the headquarters of Gotse Delchev, the monuments of Dimitar Peshev, Todor Aleksandrov, the monument "Foolish Macedonia", Vladimir Dimitrov - The Master, Ilio Voyvoda, Vasil Levski, bust the monument of the poet Peyo Yavorov. Take a walk in the "Hissarlaka" Forest Park. There is a special pedestrian walkway starting from Osogovo stadium. There is also the Zoo of the city. Visit the "Banska gradina" Park, established in 1912. And last but not least, look at the Iron Bridge over the Banshitsa River, built in 1909. on a project by Rudolf Fischer. The bridge binds the railway. the square with its central square, and at its four ends there are female sculptures of white vrachanski stone, their author Lyuben Dimitrov. South of the bridge was the northern gate, known as the Thread. North of the bridge started the so-called. Nymph road or even the road to Konstantin's hometown Great.
2.5 km away from the city there is a karting track "Pautalia", it is free to visit and offers its every day. About 7 km in the Yuchbunar area, near the village of Bogoslov, there are three century old trees - gigantes. They are supposed to be about 120 years old and are the longest and the highest seedlings in Bulgaria. 6 km from the city find the church "Saint Theodor Tiron", and at 8 cm is the St. Luca monastery of Gradish. At 14 km is Kadin Bridge, which towers above the Struma River. Next to it there is a park for recreation and fishing. At the same distance is Prevalla Shelter. 15 km away is the Polska Skakavitsa waterfall. The height of his fall is 70 m. There is a trail, which can be passed behind the water jet. It can only be reached by car next to it, and then there is a trail in which, for an hour and a half in one direction, you will see the cool waters of Polska Skakavitsa. The city has villas, hotels, guest houses, good service, WIFI, private parking and restaurants.
Blended in colors, rich in aromas and rich in history Kyustendil is a cozy place and one of the most unique places in the Bulgarian Southwest.