Velingrad is one of the oldest, most beautiful and most popular Bulgarian spa resorts. It is situated in the middle of the wonderful natural surrounding of the Western Rhodopes, 86 km southwest of Plovdiv and 133 km from the capital Sofia.

Thracians, Slavs, Byzantines, Romans, and Ottomans have shaped the town’s history.

The vicinities of Velingrad have breath-taking beauty, such as magnificent coniferous and deciduous forests, spacious flower-sprinkled meadows and crystal-pure waters. The most known localities are Yundola, Belmeken, Kourtovo, and Chernovruh. The dam lakes of Batak, Dospat and Belmeken are favorite spots for hikers and fishermen alike.
Together with the numerous mineral waters Velingrad takes pride in another natural phenomenon as well – the Kleptuza. This is the biggest Karst spring in Bulgaria with a flow of 570 liters per second.

However, the greatest treasure of Velingrad are the 80 mineral springs with temperatures varying from 22 to 48C, used for treatment of a number of diseases. The abundance of mineral springs and resort facilities, the mild climate and the beautiful surrounding areas make Velingrad a desirable destination.

The beautiful village of Raduil is situated in South-West Bulgaria. It is part of Samokov Municipality, Sofia District. Raduil is only 8km away from the famous ski resort of Borovets and 80km from the capital Sofia.

Borovets is a resort of alpine type and offers excellent opportunities for many winter sports. The resort has hosted World Cup Alpine skiing rounds twice. It is also known with its world-class biathlon track.Ski runs of various difficulties provide opportunities for the full range of skill levels. The slopes and runs are maintained in perfect condition and are designed with international markings and multilingual signs. The resort provides a ski school with highly trained English speaking instructors.
In the area of the village there are three mineral springs, located in the towns of Dolna Banya and Kostenets. If you are interested in golf, you can find a new built modern golf course in the town of Dolna Banya.
Ibar and Maritsa rivers give a wonderful opportunity for outing and fishing. Two km away from Raduil is situated the “Pokrov Bogorodichen”  Monastery, built on an ancient sanctuary.

Pernik is a city in western Bulgaria with a population of 91,883 as of 2006. 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, and later a Roman settlement, Pernik became part of the Bulgarian Empire in the early 9th century as an important fortress. The name Pernik is thought to have originated from that of Slavic god Perun with the Slavic placename suffix -nik (or -ik) added, and was first mentioned in the 9th century. The medieval town was a key Bulgarian stronghold during Bulgarian tsar Samuil’s wars against the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century, when it was governed by the local noble Krakra of Pernik, withstanding Byzantine sieges a number of times.

From 1396 until 1878 the city was under Ottoman rule. In the 20th century Pernik developed rapidly as a centre for coal mining and heavy industry. During the Communist rule of Bulgaria it was called Dimitrovo between 1949 and 1962 after Bulgarian Communist leader Georgi Dimitrov. The Surva International Festival of the Masquerade Games is held in the city every January. Pernik has two football teams, PFC Minyor Pernik and FC Metalurg.

History
Pernik is a successor of the medieval town of Krakra. In the 4th century the Thracians built a fortress there. There is a rich collection of archaeological findings that evidence the existence of a Thracian settlement in the late Neolithic. The richest collection of pottery in the Central Balkans dates from that time. It is kept in the Historical Museum.

A wonderful exhibition of relieves and sculptures is kept there, dedicated to the health-giving gods Asclepius and Hygieia, held in reverence in this region because of the presence of mineral springs.

Bulgarians took advantage of the fortified spot and built one of the mightiest Bulgarian strongholds – Pernik. This name was first mentioned in the 9th century. It is associated with the Slavic god Perun. At the beginning of the 11th century the settlement was a fortress, impenetrable to the Byzantines. It was the seat of the legendary governor Krakra of Pernik, who played an important role in the time of the First Bulgarian Empire. Today, the fortress is one of the greatest historical sites of the city. In the time of the Ottoman occupation Pernik lost its significance as a fortress because it was located deep in the interior of the Empire. Until after the Liberation of Bulgaria Pernik was a small stockbreeding village, consisting of several scattered hamlets.

The beginning of Pernik’s modern history is set in the 20th century with the development of the rich coal-beds of the region. According to some scientists, the existence of coal was already known in the 10th and 11th centuries. Before their industrial exploitation started, the local people dug it up with picks and shovels and transported coal with carts and wheelbarrows. Pernik’s rapid development is associated with the large shipments of coal to the capital city, intended for household needs and for the railroad transport. Until then, coal for the railroads and the river and sea steamboats was delivered from as far as Cardiff in the United Kingdom.

As the first miners’ quarters were built on the terraces of the Struma River, the beginning of the miners’ settlement of Pernik was set, one kilometre to the east of the village of the same name. It is a town since 1929, and since 1958 – a regional centre. The coal output reached its apogee at that time. Pernik has been an energy centre of Bulgaria for a few decades.

Landmarks
* Palace of Culture
* History Museum
* Mining Museum
* Krakra’s stronghold
* Duhlata cave
* Church of St John of Rila

Famous Natives
* Georgi Dimitrov, politician
* Georgi Parvanov, president of Bulgaria
* Angel Malinov, writer
* Velizar Dimitrov, football player
* Zdravka Evtimova, writer
* Romel Ivanov, athlete, national champion 1500m., 800m.

Commerce
* Office Building “Elena”
* Hypermarket Billa
* Hypermarket Kaufland
* Supermarket CBA
* Supermarket T-market
* Mall – in processes of building. The Mall is going to be very big and luxurious. Many famous brands will place their stores in the new Mall of Pernik.

The mineral water of the “Momina salza” spring is poorly mineralized. It contains many microelements such as manganese, zinc, cobalt, copper and other “metal vitamins”. This is the most delicious of all the mineral waters in the town of Hissar. It is mainly used for treatment through drinking and is highly recommended for gastric diseases. The average temperature of the mineral water is 42 degrees.
The legend tells that a beautiful young Bulgarian woman refused to become the Turkish bey’s concubine. In order to humiliate the girl, the bey compelled her to serve his guests naked. The girl did it, but when she stood in front of the bey she hit him hard on the head with the heavy pastry-tray and killed him. The girl was burnt at the stake as a punishment for what she had done. The moment her naked body was wrapped in flames, two warm tears rolled down her face… That is the reason why one of the mineral springs in Hissar is called “Momina salza” (Maiden’s tear).