The town of Peshtera has a population of 19 000 inhabitants. It is a municipal centre of 2 component settlements. The town lies at a distance of 20 km south of Pazardzhik at the foot of the Western Rhodope Mountains. Through the town of Peshtera passes the road which connects it with the towns of Batak, Velingrad, Dospat and the dam-lakes "Batak", "Beglika", "Shiroka polyana" and "Dospat".

For millennia this region has been populated by the Thracian tribe of Bessi which have been influenced by Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines.

The earliest written document for the existence of the settlement under the name of Petra is from 1479. During the Revival period great construction work takes place - a lot of churches, bridges, fountains, houses and schools are built at that time.