The town of Pernik is the largest town in south-west Bulgaria, after the city of Sofia, located about 30 km to the south-west of Sofia. It is a transport hub with convenient links to Sofia, the towns of  Blagoevgrad, Kulata and Kyustendil. The town is a regional and the coal-mining centre of Bulgaria. The Pernik county is sited in a pan. The favourable climate and the vast hilly pastures are the major prerequisites for the early settlement of men in ancient times. The bottom of the pan is hilly, and has two rivers that run through it – the Struma and its tributary Konska rivers. The relief of the pan is varied. As far as the climate is concerned, in the Pernik county it is continental climate, with the only exception of Vitosha slope, where it is mountainous. These climatic conditions are predetermined by the high average altitude of the county. The abundant natural and cultural resources, the proximity to Sofia and the sporadic visits paid by foreigners and Bulgarians from the other parts of the country are some of the prerequisites that attract tourists.
The Tran corner of the county is lavish with the beauties of nature, typical for Bulgaria. It is situated among the high hillside, formed from the flow of the river Erma. The town of Tran itself is situated in the Znepole valley. The Tran corner is famous for the craftsmanship of its builders and with the unique Businska ceramic school.
The village of Kovachevtzi is situated along the valley of the Svetlya river, 28 km to the west of the town of Radomir. There is fascinating natural diversity that attracts the tourists.
The town of Breznik is situated in the Breznishka glen. Today the town produces agricultural machines, merchant equipment, aluminium joinery, the textile and wine industries are developed.
The town of Radomir is situated at the west foot of the Golo bardo mountain, some 13 km away from the town of Pernik. It is an old medieval town, which has emerged on the remnants of an ancient, prehistoric settlement with a necropolis. The town has a well developed heavy industry, with several ceramic and wood-processing works. The old fame of the town of Radomir comes from its “boza”(millet-ale) craftsmen and their famous drink.

The county of Zemen is sited along the valley of the Struma river, where the Treklyanska and Divlyansnka rivers flow into the Struma river and encompasses 19 settlements, united in 14 municipalities. In the vicinity of the town of Zemen the famous monastery of Zemen is situated, built in the eleventh century and preserving murals from the fourteenth century, as well as the Zemen gorge with its unique rock formations and remnants from the fortress, dated back to the First Bulgarian Kingdom. The main occupation in the county is the production of slacked lime and quarry products.