TOURISTIC-GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF PIROT MUNICIPALITY
The location of this area is conditioned by various touristic motives, facilities, by their location. This area depends not only on objects and motives, but also on touristical way of movement, so eastern-Mediterranean direction is connected to it direction which connects Western and Mid Europe with Near East and eastern Mediterranean.
The mere area of Pirot municipality is surrounded by Stara planina on the north and northeast. The highest top is Midzor, 2169 meters high. Southern and southwest part of Pirot's valley is surrounded by some parts of Vlaška mountain (1442 meters high) and Suva planina (1809 meters high) and northwest of Pirot's valley is surrounded by some parts of Svrljiška planina (1334 meters high).
The old antique road went by over this area, known as Via Militaris (military road), and later called Empress's road.
The city got different names in different periods of time, so during the Roman Empire ( in 3rd and 4th century) it was called Turres ( the tower). Later, Pirot got different names, such as: Pirgos, Thurib, Momcilo's city, Kale, Fortress, today's name of the fortress is Kale.The archeological research of the middle part of Pirot show that there was a settlement 5000 years ago. Further research in the part of the old city helped to discover other traces from neolith, the Iron age, Antique period, early Byzantium and the Middle Ages.
Today, it is a city as important as it was in the past. The area of Pirot municipality is one of the biggest in Serbia. There are 67.552 inhabitants. The main office of Pirot District, which consists of four municipalities,is also in Pirot.
