Kyustendil Province

Mountain views and trails at the Stob Pyramids

The Stob Pyramids can be visited from two directions: a constructed eco-trail leads from top to bottom, while a maintained cart track leads from bottom to top. The two route options differ in direction and surface. When planning your day, consider which starting point you would like to use to explore the rock formations.

From the summit of the Stob Pyramids, you can see the entire Rila Valley, the entrance to Rila Monastery and snow-covered mountain peaks. This makes the viewpoint interesting for travellers who want to combine scenic views with a visit to the monastery. In Sapareva Banya Municipality, a picturesque basin lies between the Rila and Verila mountains at an altitude of 983 m. The Seven Rila Lakes, in turn, belong to the highest part of the municipality’s territory.

Another natural attraction is the 51 m-high Polska Skakavitsa Waterfall, designated a natural monument in 1968. If you choose your accommodation based on the focus of your trip, the landscape around Sapareva Banya may play a different role from the city and cultural experiences in Kyustendil.

City walks and history in Kyustendil

A walking route from central Kyustendil leads to Hisarlaka Landscape Park. The route is 2 km long and takes about 40 minutes at a normal walking pace; there are pavilions and benches along the way. A separate option is the easy cultural and historical city walk in the town centre: it is approximately 2 km long and takes about 2 to 3 hours. It is intended for individual travellers, families, school groups and organised excursions. These different details can help you choose between a walk to the landscape park and a more in-depth exploration of the city.

The historical sites also offer different points of interest. The ancient Asklepion bath complex dates from the early 2nd century, covers more than 3,000 m² and includes nine excavated rooms. The museum complex “St. George” houses one of the oldest surviving churches in southwestern Bulgaria, dating from the 11th to 12th centuries. The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God was built in 1816, is a cultural monument of national importance and remains an active place of worship.

The Dimitar Peshev House Museum features a permanent exhibition about the events of March 1943 and the role of Dimitar Peshev and his fellow citizens in saving Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. Those interested in archaeology can learn about the development of civilisation in the 6th millennium BC from finds in the Kremenik area near Sapareva Banya. Rila Monastery has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983. Its museum exhibitions within the monastery grounds cover the monastery’s millennia-old history, religious and literary activities, and economic organisation in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Traditions and shared experiences

Kyustendil hosts the National Mask Festival “Jamala” every February. The “Kyustendil Spring” festival renews an old local tradition. In Sapareva Banya Municipality, the traditional Kukeri festivals are a visitor attraction. If you are interested in regional customs, you can include them in your travel plans alongside the historical sights.

For an exploration of bee products, “Pchelarnitsa” at the “Children of the Sun” craft centre in Kyustendil offers educational activities, demonstrations and tastings. The Chifte Bath uses hot mineral water; it is intended for balneotherapy and offers therapeutic treatments, kinesitherapy and massages. The “Kentaur” riding centre near Kyustendil offers horse riding and rides in the countryside.

Active activities in Kyustendil also include an urban adventure park with four rope courses of varying difficulty set up among the trees, as well as an alpine zip line. The Pautalia karting track is located just outside Kyustendil, to the southwest of the city. It has lighting and four track configurations; the longest is 1,050 m long. These specific differences can help you take your travel group’s interests into account when choosing a location for your holiday rental.

The international E-79 road, part of International Transport Corridor No. 4, runs near Sapareva Banya. To find your way around the province, you can also explore its subordinate destinations: Kyustendil, Kocherinovo, Dupnitsa, Sapareva Banya, Rila, Pastra, Treklyano, Panichishte, Nevestino, Kyustendil and Boboshevo.

For the broader travel overview: Bulgaria.