The town of Kyustendil is the centre of the Kyustendil District with a population of 48 000 inhabitants. The town is located 88 km southwest of Sofia. It is the municipal centre of 71 settlements. It is located at the foot of Osogovo Mountains at a valley 525 m above sea level. In the past the town develops as a garrison and spa centre. The town's development is closely connected to its geographical location and the natural resources.

During V-IV c. B.C. the Thracians from the Danteleli tribe have founded a settlement here, attracted by the healing mineral springs. During I century the Romans transformed the town into a significant fortress, trade road and a spa resort. The name of the town at that time is Ulpia Pautalia. During I-II century Pautalia grows into an administrative, economic and cultural centre. One of the main roads from Serdika to the Adriatic Sea crosses Pautalia. Due to the frequent barbarian attacks during IV-V century a second fortress is built on the Hisarlaka hill, which continues to function during the medieval period as well. It is later demolished by the Ottoman conquerors in XV century. After the division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern the town falls within the limits of the Byzantine Empire. In a deed from the Byzantine emperor Vasilius II the town is mentioned under the name of Velbuzhd. During 1197-1207 the town enters the limits of Bulgaria. During the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the settlement is an important fortress and an Episcopal centre. During 1355-1395 Kyustendil is the centre of the domains of despot Deyan and his sons Ivan and Konstantin Dragash. In XIV century the town falls into the Ottoman yoke. During the Revival Period the town flourishes again. Its citizens take active part in the fights for church independence and national liberation. The town is liberated from the Ottoman yoke in 1878.

Tourist sights are: the History Museum, the ruins of ancient Pautalia, the churches "St. Georgi" from XII-XIII c., "Sveta Bogoroditza" /Holy Virgin/ (1816), "St. Dimiter" (1866), the Pirkov Tower from XVI-XVII c., the Ahmet Bey mosque (1531), the gallery of the Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora (The Master)

The mineral springs in Kyustendil have a temperature of up to 76^oC and a capacity of 35 litres per second and are suitable for healing the locomotory system, the peripheral nervous system, gynaecological, skin and other diseases.

On the territory of Kyustendil are located the following natural landmarks: parts of the "Rila" Natural Park, the "Tzarnata reka" Reserve /Osogovo Mountains/, the "Rilomanastirskata gora" Reserve, the "Gabra" Reserve/Vlahina Mountains/.

The most famous rocky phenomena on the territory of the district are the Stobski Pyramids and the "Hanged Stone" - a single rock in northwestern Rila Mountains.

The most famous monasteries within the limits of the administrative district are: The Rila Monastery and the Boboshevski Monastery. Well-known wineries in the region are: Kyustendil, Boboshevo and Granitza.

Tourist sights

The "Vladimir Dimitrov - Maistora (The Master)" Art Gallery in Kyustendil has a permanent exhibition of 200 paintings of the artist and works of other great artists who were born and worked in the town. Vladimir Dimitrov- Maistora (The Master) is a prominent Bulgarian artist. He depicts the rural lifestyle and labour, the folk traditions and celebrations. On the background of flowers and orchard trees he depicts images of peasants from the Kyustendil region-an embodiment of vitality, moral and physical beauty.

The ruins of an ancient thermal bath in Kyustendil are impressive remains of a hydropathic establishment and a temple of the Medicine God Asclepius. The hydropathic establishment used to occupy 3 000 m². The archeologists have discovered sections with heating systems, water-conduit canals etc.

The Kadin Bridge in the village of Nevestino, District Kyustendil is a great construction-engineering facility built over the Struma River during 1469-1770. The bridge has 5 vaults, each of different size, with the biggest in the middle. According to the legend the master-builder has built in his wife's shadow so that the bridge becomes stronger.

The History Museum in Kyustendil has several buildings where its main exhibitions are displayed. The archeological exhibits are displayed in the building of a mosque from 1575, the "National fights in the Kyustendil region" exhibition is displayed in the "Ilyo Voivoda" house-museum and the "Ancient urban lifestyle" exhibition is displayed in the Emfeidzhiev's House.

The Hisarlaka in Kyustendil is a park with remains of a Roman fortress dating back to I-III c.