General information and infrastructure
Territory - 375.77 sq. km
Number of population centers - 8
Population -23,018
Administrative center - Razlog town

Razlog Municipality is a Bulgarian municipality of medium size. It is situated in southwestern Bulgaria. It lies in the Razlog hollow along the course of the Mesta River, in the foot of the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopes mountains. To the south it has a connection with the Gotse Delchev hollow, and to the north it passes into the Predel saddleback. Razlog Municipality borders on several municipalities, the administrative centers of which are the towns of Bansko, Kresna, Belitsa, Simitli, Rila and the city of Blagoevgrad. Forests fund - 215.42 sq. km; arable land - 70.35 sq. km; the agricultural land fund occupies 147.89 sq. km, and the population centers occupy 6.29 sq. km.
Razlog town is a main administrative, economic, culture and transport center of whole region of Razlog and is used by the municipalities of Razlog, Bansko, Belitsa and Yakorouda. All state bodies and agencies, which operate at regional level, have offices here. The Municipality has well established infrastructure, roads network, railway connections, digital telephone exchange, Internet and GSM coverage. The population centers in the Municipality have convenient bus connections to some of the largest cities in Bulgaria, such as Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv and others. There is a convenient link to the international road Е-79 Vidin - Sofia - Koulata - Thessalonica. A new international road is going to be commissioned connecting Bulgaria and Greece along the route Simitli - Predela - Razlog - Bansko - Gotse Delchev - Drama - Kavala.

Economy and business
Over 1,800 private companies have registered and operate in Razlog Municipality. A large number of them are companies, which deliver services, but also many of them are production companies. Electronics, wood-processing, tailoring, machine building, food-stuffs are the well developed industrial sectors, as well as services, trade, construction and tourism. Foreign investments have been made in Razlog Municipality by companies from the USA, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and others. Some of the largest foreign investors are: USA - Magnetic Head Technologies (magnetic heads); The Netherlands - Hamefa (furniture); Italy - Alpitext Company (fabrics); Greece - Abotis, Alma (fabrics), and others. Other large companies in the Municipality are Inco EOOD (entrepreneurship and wood-processing); Mebelprom OOD (production of furniture); MM Stil EOOD (production of furniture); Mlechna Promihslenost EOOD (milk and dairy products); Interexim OOD (meat, sausages, by-products and others); Razlog machine building plant; Europe Fashion OOD (tailoring company) Balkanstroy AD (construction); Transpirin EOOD (cargo and passenger transport); Mehomia Commerce OOD (commodity market-place); Pirin Production Cooperative, Razlog (trade), Todor Dourev-TIENDI ET (wholesale trade), and others. Some of the larger companies in hotel and tourism business are Pirin Golf Holidays Club AD, Banya Holiday AD, Katarino 2004 AD, Elite Razlog OOD, Koulinoto OOD municipal company, and other. There are good facilities and highly qualified labor force in Razlog Municipality.

Strategic projects and opportunities for foreign investments
For the further construction and improvement of the existing transport and utilities infrastructure, the living conditions and the climate for business and tourism the Municipality invests its own funds and also applies for funding of projects by Bulgarian and other donors, such as SAPARD, UNDP, PHARE, the SIF of the EU, Program for Upgrading the Environmental Protection Activities with the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water, etc.
Forthcoming projects: Construction of waste water treatment plant in Razlog town; Construction of golf complex in Betolovo village, Katarino vacation complex, summer houses and hotel complexes in Banya village, etc.; Predel resort and tourism locality. This project will include construction of ski-slopes, Water Park and other auxiliary facilities, for which detailed designs have been prepared and approved of; Construction of a regional solid waste landfill and a company for waste processing including a system for separate waste collection; Construction of a thermal power plant for central heating of municipal buildings, a hospital and other users on the basis of burning biomass and waste.

Natural sights and monuments of culture
The relief of the Municipality is mountainous hence the moderate climate and the wealth of water resources. The water resources are of various types - karst water, mountain rivers and lakes, tributaries of the Mesta River, as well as numerous warm mineral springs. Concerning culture and history the Municipality is famous for the preserved Thracian monuments of culture; marble slates dating back to the 3 c. B.C.; remains of fortresses, monasteries and churches, such as St. Theodor Tyron and St. Theodor Stratilat in Dobarsko village (1614); its murals showing Jesus Christ inside shapes resembling rockets are amazing to visitors from both Bulgaria and abroad. Two of the most significant folklore events in Bulgaria are carried out in Razlog Municipality, namely the Koukeri (mummers) Holidays in Razlog, and the Pirin Pee (Pirin Mountain Sings) folklore fair, which is held every second year in the Predel locality.

Environmental protection and tourism
Tourism is acquiring increasing importance in the local economy, which is due to the favorable location of Razlog among the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopes mountains, the favorable climatic conditions and the availability of numerous mineral springs. There are opportunities for mountainous (winter and summer), as well as balneology treatment tourism. The Municipality borders on the Pirin and Rila National Parks. The area of Pirin National Park, which falls within the territory of the Municipality, includes Bayuvi Doupki biosphere reserve famous for the numerous historical sights in it, unique co-habitats of white fur and Macedonian pine and a large variety of other endemits. Pirin National Park is covered by the Convention for preservation of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The localities of Predel, Koulinoto, Betolovo, Boykov Rid, Katarino, Perivol in Bachevo village and Titevitsa in Dobarsko village offer good conditions for recreation and tourism. There are several recreation areas formed in them with numerous rest homes, hotels, facilities and restaurants. A lot of mountain paths to Pirin mountain start from the Predel locality. A major advantage of the locality is the abundant drinking water and the good infrastructure. At a distance of 1.7 km from Predel locality is the Koulinoto ski-slope of length 1,500 m, which has a Pomagalski ski-lift. An asphalt road leads to the very ski-slope. The Municipality is characterized also by a large number of warm mineral springs in Banya village, Eleshnitsa village, Katarino locality near Razlog, Razdhavets near Bachevo village and others. The water temperature in some of the springs reaches 60°С, and the water flow is 70-80 liters per second. Banya village is a balneology resort. It is 5 km to the east of Razlog and at 5 km distance from the winter resort of Bansko. Banya village is particularly attractive with the swimming pools in the open; they contain mineral water and are of Olympic size and of size for children. The construction of modern hotel complexes and summer-house complexes has been launched in the village. Bachevo village is a balneology and climate treatment resort of local importance; the archeological remains found near it are subject of interest. All other villages in the Municipality have the potential to develop rural tourism.

Associations, memberships, twin-cities and partnerships
Razlog Municipality is a member of the Association of Southwestern Municipalities and of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria. Побратимени градове и партньорства с общини от други страни: Memorandum for cooperation with Totana Municipality, Spain; Formal cooperation agreement with Doxato, Greece Memorandum of Understanding with Cambre Municipality, Spain; Protocol for cooperation with Kalampaki Municipality, Greece. A large number of non-governmental organizations operate in Razlog Municipality, some of the more significant of them being Local Economic Development Agency, Mesta business center, Modra Association, Bulmontana Association, Slanchev Svyat Association, Public Water Board, Public Board for Social Welfare.