About Simitli

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Simitli is a small town nestling among four mountains, 13 kilometers away from the town of Blagoevgrad and 115 kilometers away from Sofia city along the Struma River. Caressed by the Rila, Pirin, Vlahina and Maleshevska Mountains, amalgamated by the picturesque rivers of Struma and Mesta, the town of Simitli and the surrounding villages present unique opportunities for recreation and tourism. Seventeen villages have been united at the crossroads of the town, which is an administrative center of the municipality.
Simitli was first mentioned in the historical annals in the mid 15th c. under the name of Bania village. The west wall of the St. Archangel Monastery bears the following inscription: ‘Church-donor Toshe from the village of Bania, Gorna Dzhumaya province'. In the 16th c. the town was already mentioned under the name of Simitlu or Simitliyi.

Some interpretations link the name of the town with the geographic location of the settlement – Simen – center, crossroads of the two biggest rivers in Southwestern Bulgaria – Struma and Mesta. Other sources claim that the name comes from the white bread ‘simit’. The village is popular for its mineral springs – a total of 20 springs of 56 to 60°C. In recent years the town has developed with extreme dynamics. The location is within easy traveling distance to the capital – one hour trip on the E79 highway.

The aim of Simitli is to turn into a modern center of ecology and balneology tourism. The mineral bath in the town has been completely renovated. The medicinal balneological qualities of Simitli cure many diseases – of the locomotory system, neurological and skin diseases. The town square of Simitli has also been completely renovated. Many modern sanatoriums have been built on the territory of the town and Simitli is steadily turning into a leading destination in the balneology tourism.

The town park impresses with its beauty – clean and well-kept greenery, decorative fountains. The architectural beauty of the center of the town, the decorative pine trees and the impeccable cleanliness has recently made Simitli look more and more like the small attractive European towns.