The town of Pernik is the centre of Pernik District and has a population of about 83 000 inhabitants. Pernik is located 30km southwest of Sofia. The town is a municipal centre with 23 component settlements. It is located along both banks of the Struma River in the Pernik-Breznik Valley among Vitosha and Liylin Mountains and the Golo Bardo Hill. The ancient history of the town starts eight centuries ago. The first settlements in the Pernik Valley date back to the New Stone Age. Along the Pernik plateau has been discovered a palace complex with a huge column hall, a stone water-conduit, exquisite pottery and coins dating back from the V-IV century B.C. This is the capital of the Thracians from the Agrian tribe. The History museum in Pernik keeps a wonderful exhibition of relieves and sculptures dedicated to the divinities Asclepius and Hygia. According to the Thracian mythology they are the patrons of health. Pernik District enters the limits of Bulgaria during IX century. A sound medieval fortress governed by Bulgarian boyars is built on the top of the hill. The Byzantine chronicles mention the most famous boyar among them - Krakra. He became famous for his heroic defense of the Pernik fortress during the two sieges of emperor Vasilius II for the period from 1004 until 1016. Seven churches and chapels are built within the limit of the fortress. It is believed that the name of the town comes from the name of the Slavic God Perun. During the Ottoman yoke Pernik loses its significance as an important fortress for it is located deep in the interior of the Ottoman Empire. After the Liberation Pernik has only 148 houses and 1027 inhabitants. After the discovery of coal deposits the town changes its outlook and is turned into an industrial centre.

The tourist sights of the town are: the History Museum, the Art Gallery, ruins from an ancient Thracian settlement and the ruins from a medieval fortress.

The following natural landmarks are located on the territory of Pernik District: The "Ostritza" Reserve / Golo Bardo Mountains/, the Trun eco-path and the "Duhlata" cave.

The most famous rocky phenomena are: The Zemen Rocky Pyramids and the Erma River Defile. Within the borders of the district are also located the Zemen and the Peshtera Monasteries.

Tourist sights

The History museum in the town of Pernik has a collection of 50 000 exhibits from the neolith, the ancient and the medieval periods.

The ancient Thracian settlement in the town of Pernik is dedicated to the divinities Asclepius and Hygia. The sanctuary is a yard of 24x28m with a temple and a sacrificial altar within its limits.