Petrich Bulgaria - Travel Guide, Tours, Hotels and Photos - Pictures of Bulgaria

The town of Petrich (population: 29 785, 200 m above sea level) is situated in the far south-west part of Bulgaria where the Bulgarian-Greek and the Bulgarian-Macedonian borders touch. It is 13 km west of the frontier checkpoint of Koulata (at the border with Greece), 20 km east of the frontier checkpoint of Zlatarevo (at the border with Macedonia), 23 km from the town of Sandanski, 88 km from Blagoevgrad, and 189 km from the capital city Sofia. It is located at the immediate northern foothill of the Belasitsa Mountain, along the banks of the Petrich River (the right tributary of the Stroumeshnitsa River flowing into the River Strouma). The Petrich field along the Stroumeshnitsa Valley is one of the most fertile in Bulgaria. Due to the Mediterranean influence coming through the valley of the Strouma River a number of citrus fruits grow here - lemons, kiwi, figs, etc., as well as early fruits and vegetables.

History: Petrich was included in the territory of the Bulgarian State during the reign of Knyaz Boris I (852-889). In the Middle Ages it was a solid Bulgarian fortress of utmost importance for Tsar Samouil’s wars (997-1014) with Byzantium. Petrich preserved its Bulgarian spirit under the Ottoman rule as well. In 16th century the Christian population was 90%. In the second half of 19th century the town decayed and at the threshold of 20th century there are about 6000 inhabitants. In 1873 the first school was opened, and here in 1878 the Macedonian Bulgarians signed and sealed their appeal to the Great Powers against the resolutions of the Berlin Congress of the same year according to which the Petrich district was detached from Bulgaria. From 19th January 1892 Petrich and its district were included in Bulgarian Exarchate. The town population actively participated in the national liberation struggles of Macedonia. In 1899 a revolutionary committee of the IMRO (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation) was set up. Petrich was liberated from Turkish rule in the Balkan War (1912-1913). Part of the population emigrated but refugees from Vardar and Aegean Macedonia settled here. During the World War I the town was almost completely destroyed.

Accommodation: Bulgaria Hotel - the biggest and most luxurious hotel in the town. It is situated right opposite the bus station in the central part of the town at 21, Tsar Boris III. Agatha Hotel in the Tsar Samouil National Sports Base (near the stadium). In Petrich there are a few private family hotels.