Blagoevgrad (population: 76.000) is the administrative center of Blagoevgrad Province, and the major economic and cultural centre of southwestern Bulgaria. It was renamed in 1950 after the founder of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Dimitar Blagoev. It is located in the valley of the Struma River at the foot of the highest Bulgarian mountains Rila ( highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula – Musala – 2925 m. a. s. l.)  and Pirin Mountains ( Pirin Mountains being an UNESCO world heritage nature park). The main international routes connecting Bulgaria with Greece (86 km to the border) and Bulgaria with the Republic of Macedonia (25 km to the border) pass through it. Blagoevgrad also allows easy access to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia (approximately 100 kilometers to the north) and to all towns in the region. The international spa town-resort of Sandanski is only 60 km away. The city features a pedestrian downtown with preserved 19th century architecture and numerous restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, and boutiques. Blagoevgrad is known for the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), founded there in 1990. The other higher educational institution in Blagoevgrad is the Southwestern University where the emphasis is on the humanities and teacher training. The region around Blagoevgrad has abundant natural resources and the landscape is varied and extremely beautiful. The Blagoevgrad area is part of the region, known as "Pirin" which is characterized by its unique geographic location and physical beauty of the surrounding mountains full of picturesque glacial lakes, roaring rivers and rich flora and fauna. In Blagoevgrad there are also 30 mineral springs with a water temperature of up to 55° С.