Kyustendil District of Kuystendil is located in South West Bulgaria and comprises 3084.30 square kilometers and population of more than 170 000 people. Its territory is 2.7% of the whole country. It borders with districts of Sofia, Pernik, Blagoevgrad and national borders with Macedonia and Serbia. The district includes 9 municipalities - Kuystendil , Dupnitsa , Bobov Dol , Sapareva Bania, Rila, Kocherinovo, Nevestino , Boboshevo and Trekliano with total 182 settlements in them. The administrative center is the town of Kuystendil. It is located at the South-West part of the district in the Kuystendil Valley. The city has 70 000 permanent residents. Its development is connected to its geographical location. There are few major roads passing through Kuystendil - from Macedonia Skopie-Sofia and from Serbia Nische -Kuystendil. Kuystendil managed to preserve its ecology, cultural and historical heritage. It is a contemporary Bulgarian town with specific appearance and development. Its future is in the cultural tourism and modern balneological centers next to the many hot mineral springs. The relief if the district is quite varied - fertile valleys and basins, hilly lands and mountains. The climate is transcontinental and in some regions mountainous. Main water resource is Struma River. Next to the village of Kamenichka Skakavitsa is located the 70 meter high waterfall - Skakavitsa. Something interesting to see is the reserve Gabra next to Osogovo with a preserved forest of black oak. History: During the V-IV century B.C. attracted by the healing mineral springs the Thracians establish a settlement on the place of Kuystendil. During the 1st century the Romans turn the town into an important fortress, trade center and balneological resort. They named it Pautalia. In the 1-2nd century Pautalia grows to a city with intensive life, becomes an administrative, economical and cultural center. Its significance remains in the late antiquity. Archeological research in Kiustendil discovered a number of monuments and art pieces from the Roman and Byzantine times. In the ІV - V century a second fortress was built on the hill Hisarlyka. That was made in response to the many barbarian attacks. This wall was demolished by the Turks in XV century. The fortress has the form of a polygon with 14 towers and 2 gates. In a document from the Byzantian emperor Vasilii II in 1019 the town is mentioned with the name of Velbuzhd. It joined the Bulgarian country during the reign of Kaloian (1197 - 1207). In the mid XV century the Turks colonized the town and named it Kuystendil after the feudal ruler Konstantin Dragash. As a result of the fight for independence of the Bulgarian Church in 1816 was built the church "Uspenie Bogorodichno". Four years later the first school in Kuystendil was established. Kuystendil was libarated on 29.01.1878. After that the industry and the trade had a fast boom. The first factories were built in the sphere of ore output, woodworking, yarns and others. Landmarks: The town park "Hisarluka" is worth visiting. It is located close to the town at the hill and is a wonderful place for walks and picnics among old pine-trees and fresh air. Attention also should be paid to the Roman fortress in "Hisarluka". Although it was demolished by the Turks , one can see a well preserved parts of it. Church "St. George" (X-XI century) with its unique frescoes, Pirgovata kula (The Pirgov's Tower - XIV - XV century), orthodoxal churches "Sveta Bogorodica" ( means The Virgin Mary - 1816), "Sveti Dimitar", "Sveti Mina", Kilijnoto uchilishte (the cell school - 1849), the House-Museum "Ilio Voivoda", monument and house-museum of Dimitar Peshev (The Saver of Bulgarian Jews), picture gallery "Vladimir Dimitrov - Majstora", etc are all places that one should visit by all means. The Asclepion of Pautalia is an impressive Roman spa and shrine, dedicated to the god of health Asclepius, built in 2nd-3rd century. The whole building occupied an area of 3500 square meters. Large premises with a heating system, water pipes, architectural fragments etc. have been discovered. It is located in the foundations of today's buildings of Chifte Banya and the Ahmed Bei Mosque. However one of the things that attracted settlers for thousands of years are the curing powers of the mineral springs in the area.
The hot springs in Kyustendil are suitable for general prophylaxis, for body strengthening and for treatment of: - anchylosis, arthritis, etc.;
- neuralgia, neuritis, lumbago, etc.;
- gynecological and dermal diseases;
- chronic lead intoxication;
- persons, injured by radioactivity;
Good healing results can be expected by people with bone fractures, chronic bronchitis, hypertonic, podagra and chronic hepatitis. Nowadays Kuystendil is hosting one of the best 5 star Spa hotels and facilities. It attracts more and more tourists seeking for relaxation and healthy lifestyle. |