The town of Kostenetz has a population of 10 000 inhabitants and is the centre of a Municipality with 7 component settlements. The town is located at the foot of Rila Mountains along the Maritza river at an altitude of 835 m. Kostenetz lies at a distance of 75m south-east of Sofia.

The region has been populated since the Bonze and the Iron Ages. The Thracian tribe of Besi populates the settlement in I c. B.C. The development of the present day municipal centre begins in 1884 with the construction of the railway line which is part of the Sofia-Constantinople/Istanbul/ route. In 1964 the three villages of Kostenetz Banya, Momin Prohod and Momina Banya are united to form the town of Kostenetz. The region is rich of mineral springs which are suitable for healing diseases of the locomotory system, the peripheral nervous system, gynaecological, chronic and other diseases. The mineral springs are with a capacity of 42 litres per second and a temperature of 46-73^oC. Near the town is situated the Kostenetz waterfall on the Kostenetzka River in Northeastern Rila Mountains. Its waters wall from a height of 12m and splash into a rocky bed. The waterfall is proclaimed for a natural landmark.

Tourist sights

The Trayan Pass lies at a distance of 20 km from the municipal centre between the Eledzhik and Golak hills at an altitude of 800 m. A significant strategic road connecting Western to Middle Europe goes through this pass in the ancient times. During the Roman Epoch here exists a road station under the name of Sineum. At the highest point of the pass is built the famous Trayan's Gate dating back to the I-II c. A French traveler from 1719 describes the gate as of 15 feet width and 24 feet height. The pass is functional during the Middle Ages until the Ottoman domination.