Blagoevgrad - Provincial Capital
Location: The city of Blagoevgrad lies in the north-western quadrant of the province by the same name. It is located in the Struma River Valley at the foot of the Rila and Pirin mountains, along the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River. It is 101 kilometers south of Sofia and lies along three borders: Greece, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia.
Climate: The climate is considered to be transitional continental with a strong Mediterranean influence; it is characterized by mild winters without snow and hot dry summers. The region surrounding Blagoevgrad is mountainous, heavily forested and is known for its clean air and lack of pollution due to industrialization.
History: Blagoevgrad originated as an ancient Thracian settlement called Scaptopara which has been archeologically dated to have emerged around 300 B.C. and later became a subject of the Roman Empire through conquest. Little is know of the actual history of the town during the Dark Ages, but during the Renaissance it was a possession of the Ottoman Empire. Later still, during the two Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, it was freed of Ottoman rule and became a part of the modern Bulgarian state. Down through the centuries, the town has had a number of names; but in 1950 it was renamed Blagoevgrad for the founder of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Dimitar Blagoev a refugee from Aegean Macedonia.
Important Characters: The town current celebrity is Dimitar Berbatov, a moderately famous footballer who plays for the team Manchester United in England. Though there are a number of locally famous individuals who make up the social fabric of Blagoevgrad.
Who Rules: Mayor Kostadin Paskalev and the Town Council.
Who Really Rules: Prince Suregethes
Population: 76,703 (as of 2010)
Economy: The city is home to two universities: the American University in Bulgaria and the South-Western University “Neofit Rilski”; thus student services represent the number one industry in Blagoevgrad. There are two secondary industries of note: construction and textiles; construction is a growing industry due to a surplus of unskilled labor, while textiles represent a growing local craft market. The largely youthful demographic of Blagoevgrad gives rise to numerous cafes, restaurants and taverns. As with all Bulgarian cities, Blagoevgrad supports a strong interest in football (soccer) and there are currently four nationally competitive teams and a host neighborhood and children’s teams.
Notable Hotels: Accommodations and facilities for visitors are currently insufficient and there are only three hotels available: Alen Mak Hotel at the central town square (3 stars), the Bor Hotel (2 stars) and the Riltsi Motel (1 star). The Bor Hotel and Riltsi Motel are located 2 kilometers north of the town, by the motorway to Sofia. There are a few catering facilities, offering original Bulgarian cuisine.
Places to Shop: The city has 5 hypermarkets (supermarkets), Sergiyniya market (a modern shopping center) and countless local shops.
Places of Worship: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Church (Vuvedenie Bogorodichno); the history of the church is shrouded in mystery as all records related to it were destroyed in a fire during W.W.I. that failed to damage or destroy the church itself. Based on architectural elements, it probably dates from the early to mid-nineteenth century as it conforms to the ideals of the Bulgarian Revival Style.
Police: The chief of Police is Captain Ioan Antov who served in the Soviet Armed Forces during the Afgan War; the good Captain is nearing retirement age and it is of local interest who will replace him. There are 75 police officers in Blagoevgrad, but with the city’s continued growth and expansion the city council is considering increasing the number of officers to counter the growing threat of organized crime.
Organized Crime: Like all of Bulgaria, the city of Blagoevgrad has a growing shadow trade carried out by local organized crime; in this case, a series of gangs associated with the various football leagues who are trying to unite against the growing power of Sofia’s crime lords.
Notable Supernaturals: Prince Suregethes and his resident Assamite guest Amjad are the only known or likely supernatural residents of Blagoevgrad. Though the werewolves of the Rila National Park are numerous and powerful; they play a strong role in the economic and political makeup of south-western Bulgaria, including the Province of Blagoevgrad.
Resident Occultists: Prince Suregethes is rumored to be an accomplished Thaumaturge, but rumors about this always seem to be second or third hand.
Landmarks:
- The American University
- Blagoevgrad Town Centre (completely laid out in marble)
- The Chamber Opera House
- The Museum of History (Varosha Quarter)
- The Museum / House of Georgi Izmirliev-Makedoncheto
- Neofit Rilski Southwestern University
- Petit Bizhou Art Gallery
- Puppet Theatre (Varosha Quarter)
- Revival Houses (Varosha Quarter)
- Stoyan Sotirov Art Gallery
- Stanislav Art Gallery
- Theatre of Drama
Monuments to:
- Saints Cyril and Methodius
- Gotse Delchev
- Ilyo Voivoda
- P.K. Yavorov
- Macedonian-Odrin volunteers (those who were killed in the Balkan War of 1912-1913).
Local Lore: Legendry holds little sway in the modern educational center of Blagoevgrad, but its people are proud of their history, their city and their football teams. Rumors of an underground pagan cult have circulated for centuries, but no one in Blagoevgrad who is asked about it knows anything of substance and most just laugh the old superstition off with a smile and a glass of local brandy.
Maps: http://www.bulmaps.bg/index.php?l=eng
Websites: www.wikipedia.org (from there, you can find a variety of sites)
