Velingrad is situated in the proximity of interesting natural and historical sights. Throughout the ice period on the place where the Chepino bed now is there was a huge lake, which subsequently melted. The legend tells that on the shore of this lake Orpheus was born and spent his life.

The bed of Chepino was inhabited even in pre-historic times. The first settlers were from the Thracian tribe Bessi. The excavations near the village of Dorkovo and the town of Rakitovo speak that those places were inhabited by the Thracians 5000 – 6000 years B.C. Everywhere in the vicinity of Velingard and the bed of Chepino tumuli were found – the necropolis of the Bessi tribe. There were traces found from their villages and fortifications at the foot of peak Strazhata, in the Pechkovetz and Kumanitza places, which are southwest from the village of Kostandovo, Kiovgrad (near by Bakardzhiiski inn) and etc. In VI – VII century in the bed of Chepino the Slav tribe Dragovitchi were inhabited. During the years the Slav tribe were merged with the Thracians, and later also with the proto-Bulgarians, who came on the Balkan peninsula. The incorporation of the Chepino region to the state of Bulgaria became at the time of Persiyan (836 – 852). After this region felt under the slavery of  Byzantium and was emancipated during the time of king Kaloyan, a new slavery came on – the Ottoman one. In 1666 a violence acceptance of Islam started for the Bulgarian people from the bed of Chepino. They accepted the faith of the Ottoman invaders, but not their language and customs, and in this way they kept their nationality.

After the Liberation from the Ottoman slavery – 1878, in the region of Chepino a quick economic progress started. Workshops for tree treatments were built, a lumbering boom of coniferous woods started. Crafts, vegetable productions and fruit-cultures developed. The most remarkable and attractive place in Velingrad is Kleptuza. It is the biggest Karst spring on the Balkan peninsula – a real miracle of the nature, for which legends were told. Each second 570 liters water with stationary temperature are springing from it. Two beautiful lakes are forming and after that they flow away in the river of Chepino. To the south of the Karst spring evergreen pine woods are spreading – the park of “Kleptuza”.

18 km away from Velingrad is situated the cave of Lepenitza – two-storied, with an underground river and lakes, 1525 m. long. 18 km away eastwards of Velingrad on the land of  the village of Dorkovo is located the old Bulgarian fortress Tzepina , a temporary headquarters of the Bulgarian ruler despot Slav. 16 km away westwards of Velingrad is located the mountain resort Iundola, on the boarder between Rilla mountain and Rodophi mountain. There is a skies path. Here, in 1981 the first worldwide skies race championship was hold. 47 km away of the town is situated the high-mountainous area Belmeken /2000 meters altitude/. Here was built a sport base for competitors training. There is a skies path, outdoor platforms and indoor halls. 40 km away of Velingrad is situated the Rilla mountain, with the countryside of Kurtovo /1800 meters altitude/, where the unique in Bulgaria place for mountainous climate-healing is located. 12 km away eastwards of Velingrad is located the town of Rakitovo – a famous resort and historical village. 28 km away of Velingrad is located the town of Batak, which is famous for its historical sights and where one of the oldest churches is. 15 km away of Velingrad is the place of Siutka /2186 meters altitude/. It was determined that this is the place in Bulgaria where snow remains longer during the year. Here a big skies center will be built. Historical and natural sights are a precondition for the development of the historical and eco tourism.

CLIMATE

It is well-known that the bed of Chepino, where Velingrad is located, is the place in Bulgaria with a great many sunny days during the year. In the biggest part of the region the climate is mountainous, but in the bed of Chepino it is a transitional continental type with Mediterranean influence. Summers are cool and winters are mild. The average annual temperature in Velingrad is 9°С, compared with 10.5°С in Bulgaria at all. The absolute air humidity is 6.8 mm, and the relative one is 75%. The atmospheric pressure is low: 693 мм of mercury.

On the territory of Velingrad and its environs there are differentiated “health routes”. These eco-paths lead from the town to various mountain huts and natural objects and they are a bg attraction for the tourists. They can be used during the whole year. The clear weather and the rich sun in all seasons makes the stay in the mountain very pleasant. Summer, spring, autumn and winter are very suitable for outdoor climate-healing. This holds out opportunities for route-informative and pedestrian tourism.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The most widespread type of forest vegetation are the coniferous woods. The predominant varieties are spruce, white pine, but the following are also encountered: birch, hornbeam, ash-tree, lime-tree, and elm-tree. Here you can find an enormous areas with wild, ecological clean forest fruits – raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry. The wood stock includes 66 protected “nature sites” with an area of 5165 ha. The forests are rich in does, deer, wild-boars, wood-grouse capercalzies. Most rare inhabitant is the bear. In the numerous rivers and water basins Balkan trout is breeded.  In this region you can also find 2 nature reserves: in the Beglika area and on the territory of the town of Rakitovo. In these built up reserves and good game country forestries a hunting tourism can be organized.

WATERS

The main waters at the region are rivers, artificial lakes, Karst and mineral springs. The numerous mountain streams and rivers – Lepenitza, Lukovitza, Elenka and Vlasa – are combining in to the Chepinska river, which goes about 90 km, before it joins to Maritza river. During the last 50 years there was a huge hydro-technical construction in the region. The artificial lakes “Belmeken”, “Dospat”, “A wide meadow”, “Batak” and “Beglika” were built. All these objects are in radius not more than 40 km of Velingrad and they can be used about water sports and fishing.