View source for Simitli

{{Infobox settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement-->
| official_name      = 
| subdivision_type   = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Bulgaria]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Bulgaria|Provinces]]<br><small>(Oblast)</small>
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +2
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +3
| image_skyline      = Simitli-centre.jpg
| map_caption        = Location of Simitli|
| pushpin_map        = Bulgaria <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Simitli
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Bulgaria|Postal Code]]
| native_name        = Симитли|
| subdivision_name1  = [[Blagoevgrad Province|Blagoevgrad]]
| population_total   = 7454
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = 2005-09-13
| elevation_m        = 323
| postal_code        = 2730
| area_code          = 0748
| registration_plate = E
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|53|N|23|7|E|region:BG|display=inline,title}}
| leader_name        = Apostol Apostolov|
| name               = Simitli
| settlement_type    = Town
}}

'''Simitli''' ({{langx|bg|Симитли}} {{IPA|bg|simitˈli|}}) also known as '''Simitliya''' ({{langx|bg|Симитлия}}), is a town in [[Blagoevgrad Province]] in southwestern [[Bulgaria]]. It has a population of 7,454 and is located 17&nbsp;km south of [[Blagoevgrad]]. It is the seat of [[Simitli Municipality]].

==Geography==
[[File:Simitli-church1.jpg|left|thumb|Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God]]
The town is located in the Simitli Valley at the foothills of the [[Rila]], [[Pirin]], and [[Vlahina]] mountain ranges. Simitli is on both banks of the river [[Struma (river)|Struma]], at the confluence with its tributary the [[Gradevska reka]]. Geographical locations of note are the Komatinski Cliffs between [[Brestovo, Blagoevgrad Province|Brestovo]] and [[Sushitsa, Blagoevgrad Province|Sushitsa]], the [[Kresna Gorge]] along the Struma, and the foothills of the Pirin Mountains at [[Senokos, Blagoevgrad Province|Senokos]].

==Transportation==
Simitli lies along the parallel [[Struma motorway]] and first class [[I-1 road (Bulgaria)|I-1 road]] along the Struma valley, part of [[European route E79]], that link the capital [[Sofia]] and the provincial centre Blagoevgrad with Greece at [[Kulata]]. At Simitli  the second class [[II-19 road (Bulgaria)|II-19 road]] branches off I-1 heading to the town and winter resort of [[Bansko]] in the [[Razlog Valley]]. Simitli is also part of the [[Bulgarian State Railways]] network from Sofia to Greece.

==Tourism==
Some of the best whitewater rapids in the [[Balkans]] can be found on the Struma river in the Kresna Gorge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rafting base at Struma river (Town of Simitli)|url=http://visit.guide-bulgaria.com/a/1329/rafting_at_struma_river.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Guide Bulgaria|language=en}}</ref> The rafting and kayaking season is from April to July and there is guided rafting every weekend. Simitli is also part of the EuroCup circuit for the European Rafting Federation every year. Every second weekend of January, there is a Kukeri or Surva festival held in the local stadium by E-79 which rivals [[Razlog]] and [[Pernik]]'s own [[Kukeri]] Festivals.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.senokos.com www.senokos.com] | Tourism website for village Senokos
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071217010202/http://www.ternipe-simitli.org/ www.ternipe-simitli.org] | Website for local Roma NGO that creates monthly magazine for Simitli
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071111112412/http://www.hoteldimario.com/ www.hoteldimario.com] | Website for Hotel DiMario, a local hotel in Simitli

{{Cities of Bulgaria}}
{{Simitli Municipality}}

[[Category:Towns in Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Populated places in Blagoevgrad Province]]
[[Category:Spa towns in Bulgaria]]

{{Blagoevgrad-geo-stub}}