Blagoevgrad, Administrative province in southwestern Bulgaria.
Blagoevgrad is an administrative province in southwestern Bulgaria stretching between North Macedonia and Greece with mountains, valleys, and river systems. The landscape includes diverse terrain that supports agricultural areas and settlements across fourteen municipalities.
The province was under Ottoman rule for centuries until the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 brought it under Bulgarian control. This shift reshaped local governance and settlement patterns across the region.
The region reflects a blend of Slavic, Turkish, and Romani traditions visible in local festivals and crafts that visitors encounter throughout the towns and villages.
The province is best explored by car or on foot, as towns and natural areas are spread across mountainous terrain requiring some travel between locations. The capital city serves as a main hub for accessing different parts of the region.
The area contains natural thermal springs with roots in ancient Thracian settlements once called Scaptopara, where hot mineral waters were valued for healing properties. These geothermal waters continue to flow in the same locations today.
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