The small sub-Balkan town of Pirdop is located in the Zlatitsa-Pirdop valley, between Stara Planina to the north and Sredna Gora to the south at 680 meters above the sea level. Pirdop is situated 77 km east of Sofia, 27 km south of Etropole, 32 km north of Panagiurishte and 32 km northwest of Koprivshtitsa.

HISTORY
The territory of the present town of Pirdop has been inhabited for more than 6000 years. The ancient Roman road connecting Ulpia Trayana with Ulpia Serdika was passing near by. Alexander the Great frequently visited these locations. It is not known where the name of Pirdop originates from, but there are many legends trying to suggest an explanation, none of them too convincing. The hills over the tombs and the medieval ruins of the castles unequivocally indicate that various tribes have crossed and interrelated their destinies here. The first written facts about Pirdop date back to the 12 century when the Chronicle of Pirdop was written – a valuable book kept in the National library “Saints Cyril and Methodius”.
During the years of the Bulgarian Renaissance the entrepreneurial citizens of Pirdop managed to transform their settlement into an economic and cultural center. In 1698 the Protopopinski (Pirdopski) collective manuscript was written by the teacher Georgi, thus initiating the literacy activities in the settlement and its vicinities. The same author wrote the Tihonravov Damaskin, kept in the state Library in Moscow. Originally an ecclesiastical school was founded and later in 1820 – the first municipal school where Bulgarian language was taught by the teacher Todor Pirdopski was opened.
The local folkstyle mantles (abi), woolen homespun clothes (shaiatsi), woolen braiding, bed covers, blankets, candles and soap were highly valued at the markets in Vienna, Budapest, Constantinople, Thessaloniki and Alexandria. The production of woolen braiding alone provided the town with an income of 9 000 000 Turkish grosh. After the Liberation of Bulgaria Pirdop lost its markets, suffered a decline in production and a competition for survival.

LANDMARKS
In the town of Pirdop tourists can visit the museum of Lukanov house, the Nikola Pushkarov museum – in the native house of the scientist who put the foundations of the Soil studies in Bulgaria. That is also the place where the outstanding writer and public figure Todor Vlaikov was born.

SURROUNDING AREAS
Ruins from the time of Emperor Ustinian I are situated 6 km northeast of Pirdop. Near them are the ruins of an ancient settlement thought to be of the Thracian town of Burdapa. There can also be seen remnants from the Neolithic era and hills covered with Thracian tombs.