Petrich 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.
Transport: There is bus and railway transport to and from Petrich connecting it with the rest of the country. The bus station is situated in the central part of the town. There are bus lines to Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Sandanski, Koulata, Zlatarevo and all villages in the Petrich Field. Petrich is the last railway station on the General Todorov - Petrich extension of the railway line Sofia - Koulata - Athens. The railway station is located in the northern part of the town.
Surrounding areas: The most significant sight near Petrich is the Samouil Fortress - National Museum (18 km west of the town and 6 km north of the village of Klyuch, on the right bank of the Stroumeshnitsa River). At the beginning of 11th century the Bulgarian Tsar Samouil built a defencive system against the Byzantine invasion in the Klyuch Saddle (between Belasitsa and Ograzhden Mountains). In the summer of 1014 the Byzantine Emperor Vasilius II and numerous army entered the saddle. After a series of futile attacks to the Bulgarian defence he sent part of the army to march round the Belasitsa Mountain and turn up in the rear of the Bulgarians. The defenders of the fortification were taken by surprise and 15 000 of them were taken prisoners. The infuriated Byzantine Emperor ordered that all the captives were blinded, to every 100 soldiers he left one with one eye to lead them. All this broke Tsar Samouil and on 6th October 1014 he died desperate. Ever since the Byzantine Emperor has been called Vasilius the Murderer of Bulgarians. Four years after this crucial battle Bulgaria fell under Byzantine rule for nearly two centuries. The imposing bronze statue of Samouil is a remarkable sight; he is in full height with legs bent in the knees under the burden of severe anguish. On either side of the statue there are stone plates with embossed figures of the blinded soldiers. There is a museum exhibition offering significant historical information about the Bulgarian State. The biggest dwelling-place in the settlement is preserved under a glass dome. The whole of the Klyuch Saddle can be viewed from a 25 m high panoramic platform. Working hours: 08.00 a.m. - 05.00 p.m. One can use the regular bus lines from Petrich to Zlatarevo frontier checkpoint.
Five kilometres north-east of Petrich one can find remains dating back to the Hellenic epoch (most probably of the ancient town of Petra) - parts of a fortress wall, foundations of public buildings, architectural fragments. Coins dating back to 4-3th centuries BC were discovered. The Roupite Nature Reserve - 10 km north-east of the town. There is a railway station on the General Todorov - Petrich line. One can see the hot steaming mineral springs at the bottom of the dead vulcano of Kozhouh. This is an extremely beautiful and impressive place. The Bulgarian prophet Vanga lived here and helped the people in her last years. Her house and the St. Petka Church remind us of her. She herself was the initiator and donator for the construction of the church.
