The town of Pirdop lies at a distance of 81 km east of Sofia and has a population of 8 400 inhabitants. Pirdop is a municipal centre with 1 component settlement. The town is situated in the Zlatitza-Pirdop Valley along the Pirdopska River.

In the vicinities of the town there are findings from the Neolith, Thracian mounds, an ancient settlement and a Byzantine basilica from V-VI c. Remains from an ancient settlement have been found for which archaeologists believe that they are from the Thracian town of Burdapa. The town is the successor of a medieval settlement. With its present day name it becomes famous in XVII c.

In 1490 and 1700 the settlement is described in the Ottoman documents. Pirdop is a craftsman's and cattle breeding centre during the Revival period. Pirdop is the home town of Todor Vaykov - a prominent writer and a public figure and Nikola Pushkarov - the father of the Bulgarian agrology.

The tourist sights of the town are: the church "Uspenie Bogorodicho"/ The Assumption/ (1819), the house-museum of Nikola Pushkarov, the Lukanov's house and the remains of the Helena basilica (dating back from the Roman period).

Tourist sights

The Church "Sveto Uspenie Bogorodichno" /The Assumption/ in Pirdop is built in 1819. It has a unique wood carved iconostasis - the work of the Debar art school. The icons in the church are painted by the famous Tryavna artist Yoanikii papa.

The Helena basilica in Pirdop shows the ruins of an impressive basilica from the Roman period. It lies 6 km north-east of the town. The remains of an ancient Thracian town are also located in the region.