Katuntsi is a village in South-western Bulgaria. It is located in Sandanski Municipality, Blagoevgrad region.

It is 92 km south-east from town of Blageovgrad, 31 km in the same direction from town of Sandanski, 186 km away from city of Sofia, 45 km west from town of Gotse Delchev, 25 km east from town of Petrich and 12 km north from the Bulgarian-Greek border at village of Kulata.

The settlement is located at the national road Sandanski-Gotse Delchev. Regular bus transportation to the capital and the neighbouring towns and villages.

The population is approximately 1440 people.

Katuntsi spreads out the Sandansko-Petrichka valley, at the south-west slopes of Pirin Mountain. The sea altitude is 166 m. Pirinska Bistritsa River passes through the settlement. There are healing mineral springs in the area.

The climate is transitional-Mediterranean with hot summer and mild winter.

The natural conditions are favourable for stock-breeding (sheep-breeding) and raising perennial plants (vineyards, figs, almonds) and industrial crops.

Katuntsi is a well-developed village. It is provided with electricity, water, sewerage system, telephone net, TV net and Internet connection. There is a town-hall, a post office, a comprehensive school, a kindergarten, a community centre with a library, a church, medical services, a hotel complex with SPA services and a swimming pool, a football stadium and different trade areas. Katuntsi is well-recognized settlement centre of the villages in South-western Pirin Mountain.

Operational are several tailoring workshops, a factory for marble and granite processing and a workshop for mineral water bottling. The mineral water near the village is used for the daily needs of the population by a local fountain. Its qualities were researched in details.

Tourism

The village is perspective with good conditions for the developing of tourism. It is a starting point for mountain routes in Pirin National Park and 'Ali Botush' reserve.

The traditional fair of the village and the church holiday of the local temple 'St Teodor Tiron' take place annually on 15 August.

Places of interest in the region are the smallest town in Bulgaria - Melnik and the biggest monastery in Pirin Mountain - Rozhen Monastery.

Just 15 km away from the village is located the balneotherapy resort of Marikostinovo. It is famous with its healing hot thermal springs that form mud-baths suitable for healing bones diseases.

Internet sources: www.bg.wikipedia.org, www.sandanskibg.org
Pictures: www.panoramio.com, Internet