Town of Petrich
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 Kulata (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 Strumeshnitsa River flowing into the
River Struma). The Petrich field along the Strumeshnitsa Valley is one of the most
fertile in Bulgaria. Due to the
Mediterranean influence coming through the valley of the Struma 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 Samuil’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 Samuil National Sports Base (near the stadium). In Petrich there are a few private family hotels.
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