Samokov, Mountain municipality seat in Sofia Province, Bulgaria.
Samokov spreads across a high valley cut by the Iskar River and surrounded by four mountain ranges: Rila, Vitosha, Verila, and Plana. The town sits in a natural basin with forested slopes rising on all sides.
The settlement began in the 14th century as a mining community founded by Saxon miners during the Bulgarian Empire's expansion of metal production. It later grew into a leading center of European metalworking.
Metal craftsmanship shaped this town from the 16th to 18th centuries, when water-powered forges produced horseshoes, nails, and weapons for the entire region. This tradition drew skilled workers and made it an economic center of the country.
The valley has several entry roads and remains connected to Sofia through regular bus services linking visitors to the surrounding area. The best visiting months are May through September, when mountain walks and climbing routes are most accessible.
The name "Samokov" comes from the self-operating water hammers used in the forges, which moved automatically through water power. This machinery was unusual for its time and made local metalworks models for other regions.
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