Samokov Municipality

Municipality of Samokov is the local governmental body responsible for the governance of the administrative center, the town of Samokov and the 24 villages situated on its territory. With its 1209 sqm Samokov municipality is the biggest in the Sofia district region. Samokov municipality has 250 employees working in 10 municipal departments and 9 municipal enterprises such as social services, senior homes, hospital, sports, tourism including a tourist information center and a 3-star hotel, construction, waste management, forestry. The annual budget comes up to 37 million in Bulgarian currency. Samokov is located in the South-West of Bulgaria in only 60 km from the capital Sofia and 110 km from the town of Plovdiv. It is located in the Samokov valley, which is crossed by the clear waters of the Iskar River and its tributaries and spreads over a significant part of the Rila Mountain and parts of the surrounding mountains Plana, Vitosha, Verila and Ihtiman forest. Samokov is an alpine town with a contemporary look, combining in its development the rich historical heritage, refine culture, sports spirit and the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding nature. It originated in the early 15th century. On the ruins of an ancient settlement, the city achieved economic boom in 17-19 century, thanks to the extraction of iron in the famous smeltery, called "Samokov". Later the “Samokov” gave the name of the city, which remains unchanged nowadays. One of the biggest companies in the fields of innovative electronics, food and diary industries, production of potatoes, wood industry, incl. production of pellets are situated in Samokov. In 2016 the first in Europe Coho farm for breeding a salmon was officially opened in the region of Samokov. The region is an attractive tourist destination that welcomes visitors throughout the whole year. In only 10 km from Samokov is situated the first on the Balkans resort – Borovets which officially celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2016. Borovets offers a vast opportunities for practicing all kinds of snow sports, combined with a higher quality of service, modern facilities and equipment. The coolness and freshness of the summer and the quietness of the century old forest of Rila mountain create perfect conditions for relaxation during spring and summer months. On the territory of Samokov municipality there are numerous eco paths and mountain routes, whereby a great part of the mountain is taken by the National park of Rila, which has an unique flora and fauna species. The lovers of safari and hunting may enjoy the hunting reserve services in the region. Dam Iskar and the dam near the village of Alino are perfect for fishing, water sports, beach activities and camping. The parks around are ideal for picnics and quite time out. Samokov villages have retained their originality and authentic appearance, and kept the specific of each village life, culture and traditions. Visitors can travel in time and go back to the Bulgarian roots with authentic folklore - songs, costumes, unique traditional dishes, and get familiar with different customs. The tranquility of the mountain is in harmony with the cozy home comfort and charm that can be found in the village houses of the region where a tourist can stay. The thermal waters in the village of Belchin and resort Belchin banya contribute to the development of spa and health tourism in the region. The waters are with proven therapeutic and prophylactic qualities and positive effects on the locomotor system and by dermatitis. The territory has three swimming pools and special spa facilities. The rich sports and cultural calendar, the numerous sports events and traditional local festivals with national and international significance create variety for locals and visitors throughout the year. Sports and tourism make a perfect match in Samokov. The town has excellent sports facilities, multipurpose sports hall with the possibility of practicing 26 different sports and a hotel next to it, stadium, motor range, roll ban, shooting area. The municipality has outdoor tennis courts and football and mini football stadiums. There are several horse riding basis in the region. There are good conditions for extreme sports such as mountain climbing, hang gliding, paragliding and many more. For fans of mountain biking, Borovets Mountain Bike Park offers over 20 km of marked trails. In addition there is the Relyovo Fun trail in the village of Relyovo and the Pump track configuration in Samokov which makes Samokov a perfect much for adventurous bikers. Rope city and ice rink offer an additional entertainment for all.