Blagoevgrad is a city in Bulgaria, with a population of about 76,000. The city is the administrative, economic and cultural center of Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located at the foot of the Rila and Pirin mountains, about 100 km south of Sofia, close to the Greek and Macedonian borders.
The city features a pedestrian downtown with preserved 19th century architecture and numerous restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, and boutiques. Blagoevgrad is home to two universities: Southwestern University "Neofit Rilski" and the American University in Bulgaria.
