Kardzhali municipality is located in Eastern Rhodopes Region. The municiplaity occupies the central southern part of the Kardjali country. It covers an area of 624 sq. km. in the eastern Rodopi mountains. The municipal center - the town of Kardzhali is located along Arda river-banks at a distance of 259 km away from Sofia and 100 km away from Plovdiv. The nearest border checkpoint "Kapitan Andreevo", which connects the municipality with Greece and Turkey is 132 away. By opening the transport corridor №9 of the European road network through the "Makaza" passage, a direct connection with the Republic of Greece will be provided. The municipality comprises its center-the town of Kardzhali and 117 settlements classified into 43 town or village councils. The relief is mainly hilly, deeply indented and low mountainous. Forest Fund comprises forests and forest shelter belts occupying an area of 207,748 decares. The climate is transient-mediterranean, slightly influenced by the mountains; the winter is relatively mild and the summer is hot. The mild climate in combination with the great variety of flora and fauna, the dam lakes and the unique natural places are good conditions for tourism development during all year round. The Environment: Protected sites like `Kamenna Svatba` (Stony Wedding), "Kamenni gabi" (Rocky Mushrooms), "Skalen prozoretz" (Rocky Window), "Venerin Kosam" (Venus`s Hair) and "Sredna Arda"; variety of unique Neolithic monuments, citadels, etc. The restored `St. Ioan Predtecha` monastery complex, a fortress from the Middle Ages called "Perperikon", the sacred Thracian King Palace from 4th-5th century B. C. etc.