Kyustendil lies 525 metres above sea level in Southwestern Bulgaria. To the north, the Kyustendil valley borders the labyrinth of the Kraishte region, to the south- the steep slopes of Osogovo Mountain, to the west- the Lisets Mountain, to the northeast- the Konyavo Mountain. The river Struma crosses the plain from the north and flows down to the south and thus shapes the Zemen and Skrino defiles. Curative mineral water springs, favourable climate, fertile land, rich ore mines, a crossroads of major transport routes, nature shaped by the hand of the Holy artist- all of these characterize Kyustendil as the "eternal town". In the past Kyustendil was known as the Emperors' town, the town of Konstantine the Despot, the town of the hamams (Turkish Baths), "which brought all sorts of benefits to the body", the town of Ilyo and Rumena Voivoda. Today it is known as the town of artists, the town at the foot of the Hissarluka Hill, the Orchard garden of Bulgaria, "the green town" or "the place touched by Gods".
     The town of Kyustendil is the administrative centre and has population of 56 500 inhabitants. The territory of the Kyustendil region is crossed by the International Transport Corridor No.8 and is a major transport and railroad junction. Kyustendil is located 86 km. away from Sofia, 23 km. from the state border with the Republic of Macedonia, and 30 km. from the state border with the Republic of Serbia.

     Climate and Balneology

     The climate in Kyustendil is traditionally continental with Mediterranean influence. The mild weather is largely due to the beneficial effect of the mountains that surround the plain from the north, east and west. The average annual temperature is 11° C.
     Kyustendil is a national balneological resort. There are more than 40 mineral springs with a temperature of 71°C to 73°C, characterized as sulphide, silicic, fluorine, hyperthermal and slightly mineralized, and the curative pest which is rich in humic acids and organic substances. Indications for treatment are chronic inflammatory conditions of the joints, disturbances of the peripheral nervous system, a number of diseases of the reproductive system and sterllity. Comprehensive treatment includes procedures with mineral water and peat, electric and light paraffin applications, curative massage, reflexotherapy,laser acupuncture and kinesitherapy. The resort region includes several baths, balneological complexes and others.

     History

     Kyustendil is one of the most ancient towns in Bulgaria. Fertility and the warm mineral springs attracted the Thracian tribes of danteleti and peontsi, which founded here a settlement far back in 5th-4th century BC. During the 1st century the Romans turned it into an important fortress, trade venue and renowned spa resort, calling it Pautalia. In 4th century the fortress Hissarlaka was built later reconstructed by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (572-565). After 553 the name Pautalia is not accounted any more. In 1019, in the Charter of the Byzantine Emperor Vassilii II, the town was mentioned by the name Velbuzhd, probably after the name of a leader. It was integrated to the Bulgarian State during the reign of King Kaloyan (1197-1207). From 1379 to 1395 feudal ruler had been Konstantin Dragash and by his name, later in the 16th century, the town was renamed Kyustendil (the land of Konstantin).
     From the middle of the 15th century the Turks began to colonise massively the town and subjected the Bulgarian population to assimilation. In the end of the Ottoman domination and after the Liberation, in particular, the ethnic make up changed due to the numerous Bulgarian emigrants from the lands remaining under Ottoman rule and from the neighbouring settlements. During the Revival the town rapidly grew and developed. A church school was opened (1821), its inhabitants took active part in the ecclesiastical and national struggles. The detachments of haidouts (armed volunteers), lead by Ilyo Voivoda and Roumena Voivoda, one of the few women leaders in Bulgarian history, were very active in the surrounding mountains. Kyustendil was liberated on 29th January 1878. After the liberation some of the crafts depending on Turkish markets declined, but tobacco production developed, as well as spa resort activity.

     Landmarks

     The Kyustendil museum has gathered an extremely rich collection of materials for 130 years of work. Parts of these historical artifacts are displayed in the following exhibitions:
     The permanent archeological exposition of Regional Archeological Historical Museum is set up in the mosque "Ahmed bei", built in 1575, a cultural monument of national significance. It includes more than 800 exhibits from the whole region of Kyustendil. The exhibits presented and the broad chronologic range they encompass give the visitor the opportunity to get information on the cultural-historical development of the region and to get deep back into the centuries - from 7th - 6th century BC till 14th century.
     The restored house of Ilyo Markov, one of the renowned figures of the National liberation movement, hosts an exposition called: "The National Liberation fights of the people from Kyustendil. Focus is given to the battles from the XV century up to the Liberation, as well as to the people's contribution to the national liberation and unification of the Bulgaria in the late XIX and early XX century.
     The Emfiedzhieva house is an architectural monument from the Bulgarian Revival period. It is situated in the old Kyuestendil residential district Losenets (Bagluck). The museum exhibition "Urban Life and Culture of the Kyustendil population from the end of the XIX century to the beginning of the XX century" is hosted there. You can see the typical interior, furniture and household utilities of the urban houses, belonging to the better-off part of the intelligentsia or to rich and famous Kystendil families.
     In 2002 the ambassador of Israel, Emanuel Zisman, and Kyustendil Municipality implemented a project for the restoration of Dimiter Peshev's house and its turning into a museum. The permanent exhibition with original belongings, photos and facsimiles tells the story of what happened in March 1943 and of the worldly acknowledged merit of Dimiter Peshev and his fellow-citizens form Kyustendil, who contributed to the salvation of the Jews in Bulgaria.
     The art gallery in Kyustendil, which is named after the most significant Bulgarian artist of world fame, was established in 1959, and in 1972 it moved to an especially made for it modern building. The art gallery in Kyustendil, which is named after the most significant Bulgarian artist of world fame, was established in 1959, and in 1972 it moved to an especially made for it modern building. The gallery has the major and largest collection of unique works of Vladimir Dimitrov the Master, set-up in a permanent exposition. It keeps and organizes regular exhibitions of other eminent artists from Kyustendil like St. Venev, K. Tsonev, M. Bentsionov, N. Mirchev, As. Vasilev, and others. Performances of modern authors from Kyustendil, visiting, anniversary and thematic exhibitions are organized in the hall for temporary exhibitions. Annually, the gallery gives its halls for the closing part of the International plenary meeting "St. Luka", which takes place in Kyustendil every October.
     The medieval defense tower in Kyustendil known under the name of Pirkova Tower is situated in the central part of the town near the Roman therms.
     The name "Pirkova" comes from the Greek word 'pirogs', which means 'tower'. This defense tower is considered to have been built at the end of 14th century and the beginning of 15th century. Professor Yordan Ivanov compares the Pirkova Tower in his book "Northern Macedonia" to the defense towers in Vidin and he assumes that they date back to this very period. The tower has an almost square shape, sized 8,25 meters by 8,35 meters and is 15 meters in height. It has a ground floor and 3 other floors above, the third of which, in one of its halves, is divided in two semi floors. The ground floor functioned as storage. On the first floor there is a northern overarched entrance, a stone fireplace in the southern wall, which was used for heating, as well as two loopholes. The second floor was used for living. It has a fireplace, a niche, 3 vertical and 2 round loopholes and a gallery with a place for sanitary needs. The third floor was used for circular defense. The Pirkova Tower gives evidence of the architectural and building techniques used in the defense system in the medieval town of Velbazhd. The tower is a monument of national importance.
     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 metres. Large premises with a heating system, water pipes, architectural fragments and etc. have been discovered. It is located in the foundations of today's buildings of Chifte Banya and the Ahmed Bei Mosque.
     Bishop's church "Virgin Mary's assumption" is situated in the central part of the city in the immediate vicinity of the central square. It was built in 1816 in place of the medieval church "St. Nicola". According to the design there is a dug-in one-apsis pseudobasilica, which has three naves and wood backing. The northern and western narthex, candle works and an ossuary were built in 1933. The church is an impressive monument of the Bulgarian Revival art. It has altar holy gates to the women's section (16th- 17th centuries), preserved icons from the beginning of 19th century ("St John of Rila's Assumption" by Toma Vishanov, "St Todor Tiron", "St. Todor Stratilat"), an iconostasis and frescos painted by Ivan Dospevski. The church has been declared an architectural and art monument of national significance. It is currently a temple as well.
     "St. George" Church from the XII century, is situated in the Kolusha residential district is by far the pearl of the medieval architectural and art heritage.

     Surrounding areas

     In close proximity to the south of the town, at the lowest foothills of Ossogovo Mountain, is situated Hissarluka Park where can be seen medieval fortress. The fortress was built at the end of 4th and beginning of 5th century. The fortress was readjusted in 6th century and was in use during the time of the First and Second Bulgarian State and was demolished by the Ottomans in 15th century.
     The fortress has the shape of an irregular polygon. It is 117 meters by 175 meters in size and its territory is 2,12 hectars. The fortress is protected by round, triangular and rectangular 14 towers. There are two gates and five secret entrances. The main and widest gate is in the eastern wall and is near the main road. The fortress wall has different width, which varies from 1.6 meters to 3 meters. The supposed height of the walls is 10 meters and the height of the towers- 12 meters. The building technique is called opus mixtum.
     The interesting construction techniques, the combination of different building techniques and materials as well as the excavated archeological monuments from different historical periods define the Hissarluka fortress one of the most important ones in Bulgaria. The fortress is a cultural monument of national significance.
     13 km to the south-east of Kyustendil in Nevestino village is located Kadin (Nevestin) Bridge. This is a medieval 100 m long bridge built over Struma River. It is one of the biggest engineering and construction facilities in our country from 15th century. It was built in 1469-1470 on the ancient and very important in the past Tsarigrad-Plovdiv-Samokov-Kyustendil-Skopie road. The architecture of the bridge is a mixture of ancient, medieval and Renaissance elements, which are locally reproduced. There is a granite plate with an inscription in Turkish built in the southern part of the eastern parapet. The name of the bridge is connected to the legends concerning its building. Today the bridge is a cultural monument of national significance.
     Girls' monastery "St. Luka" is situated at the northern foot of the Ossogovo Mountain, 4 km to the southwest of the village of Granitsa. It was built in X century and was restored in the 1950s. Today the monastery is entirely renovated. It is a small complex of one-nave and one-apsis church without domes, a belfry next to it and monastery residential buildings. A total of 16 people can spend the night there. There is a legend that in the 15th century, the monastery abbot was Jacob, father of Joasaph, David and Teofan, all of whom restored the Rila Monastery. There is a fountain in the monastery yard, which was built in honour of the three monks from the village of Granitsa. The monastery is constantly open for visitors and is accessible to vehicles.
     39 km to the north of Kyustendil, on the line to Sofia, the town of Zemen is situated and in its vicinity is the historic Zemen Monastery, built in the 11th-12th century. Its murals are the most valuable ones from 14th century in our country. Along a 22 km distance from the town of Zemen to the village of Ruzhdavitsa, between Konyavska and Zemenska Mountains, Strouma River has created a rare, picturesque beauty, called Zemenski Gorge. It is a miniature copy of the Iskar Gorge. There are queer rock formations - Agapie, Saraya, Galabinski rocks, Ritlite, vigorous karst springs, unexplored caves, picturesque meanders, sideways running waterfalls, of which the most impressive is the Polsko-Skakavishki Waterfall (50 m) below the village of Polska Skakavitsa.

     Transport

     Kyustendil is connected with the other parts of the country by bus and railway transport. The town maintains regular every hour bus line with the capital city, as well as with all neighbouring larger towns - Pernik, Doupnitsa, Blagoevgrad and etc. There are regular bus lines to all villages in the region. Due to its closeness to Macedonia, there are enough lines to this neighbouring country. The town is a main station on the Sofia-Kyustendil-Gyueshevo railway line, and in near future it will be linked with the railway network of Republic of Macedonia. Town bus transport functions within Kyustendil.