About mumnicipality
Svoge municipality covers an area of 866 sq. km in west Bulgaria. It is situated around the defile of Iskar river, about 40 km from the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia. It has a common border with Sofia municipality and the municipalities of Kostinbrod, Godech, Botevgrad, Varshetz, Vratza and Mezdra.

The railroad Sofia-Mezdra as well as some busy automobile thoroughfares, that are a part of the country road network, pass through the territory of the municipality.

History
The first known inhabitants of Svoge region are the Thracians. Some fortifications, the most famous of which is the one in Zasele village with Thracian name Meteriza, date from this period. There are also three known necropolises. Some artifacts were found in Iskar defile and they are an example for the intensive trade relationships with the Mediterranean. In Roman times there was a settlement, whose primary function was to maintain the existing Roman road that connected Serdika with the northern provinces of the empire. Coins from the late Roman and the early Byzantine period  were found at the foot of peak Grohoten (near Svoge). Thirteen defense structures were found that were built or repaired during the same period, whose purpose was to hold back the barbarian invasions.
At the end of the V century the raids of the slavs began. One of the main routs for their settlement passed through the Iskar defile towards the Sofia plains. These lands were included within the borders of the First Bulgarian kingdom when the forces of Chan Krum passed through the region on their way to invade the strategic fortress of Sredetz. Some legends tell that the troops of Chan Krum defeated few parties from the Byzantine army of emperor Nikifor I Genik in the region of Gubislav (Lose glory) village, where the name of the village originated from. There is not enough data for the early mediaeval times. Two villages that exist up to now - Iskretz village and Svidnia village date from that time. Two of the churches - in Druzevo village and Iskretz village date from the time of the Second Bulgarian kingdom.
After the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman power, the number of the population in the region rises signifaicantly. Thisis caused by the tendency of teh Bulgariam people to move away from the Turkish administrative centers. Defenders of the native people are the haiduks, the most famouse of whom are priest Martin and Valchan voivode.
In 1871 the Apostle of freedom - Vasil Levsky passes through this region loaded with the task to establish a revolutionary committee.
After the liberation of Bulgaria the region of Svoge lags behind the advance of the economy. The main occupation of the population is the primitive farming, cattle-breading and lumbering.  Svoge becomes a station bringing together the parcelled out settlements in the region. Till year 1900 the village of Iskretz is the administrative center of this region but soon after that Svoge assumes this obligation due to its better economic and strategic possitions. After the constrution of the railroad the existance in the Iskar defile enlivens. Plenty of station villages spring up along the railroad that attract, undertakers, retailers and merchants, craftsmen and clerks. Workshops, querries and lime-pits are established. Anthracite coal is mined. In 1921 the facory for chocolate and sugar products was established with 200 workers. A great dela of the population works in the railway. A lot of schools and culture clubs are found in the region. Unaffected administrative, economic and cultural center became Svoge, which is a municipal center to present days.

Geography
Svoge municipality is a region with rugged terrain, whose highest peak is 1636 m and its lowest point is 310 m. The terrain is mountainous with numerous defiles, chasms and caves.

Climate
The territory of the municipality has a continental temperate climate.
This sets the pattern for cold winter, mild summer and early autumn compared to the rest parts of the country.
The river valley of Iskretzka (feeder of Iskar river) has a specific microclimate that is suitable for balneological treatment of pulmonary diseases.

Culture
On the territory of Svoge Municipality there are 14 cultural clubs, which are cultural centers with public libraries and different kinds of amateur art activities - theater, folklore, music, pictorial and plastic arts.
The biggest cultural club in the district is situated in the town of Svoge. Its name is "Gradishte". It was established in 1907 by Zarko Kotzev. During the hundred years of existance "Gradishte" "sheltered" generations of talented people from Svoge, giving them the opportunities to develop their capabilities and talents.

Natural sights
The defile of the river of Iskar is one of the natural sights in the region. Another interesting sight is the peak of Grohoten - 1045 m altitude.
The region is a traditional place for climbing, hunting, extreme and cave tourism. There are famose mountain hostels like "Trastenaya" and "Prpboynitza" as well as he forest house "Skaklya" and the hunting house "Tarsava". Here is the "path of Vazov", that has the name of the collossus of the Bulgarian literature - Ivan Vazov who had created a part of his works here. The most visited caves are "Temnata doupka" near the village of Lakatnik and "Elata" near the village of Bov.
Protected area "Lakatnik rocks"
The Lakatnik rocks are unique rock phonomenon with sheer cliffs on the left slope of Iskar defile near Lakatnik station. For thousands of years the river formed a fantastic scenery of rocks. The rocks that are oover 250 years high are connected with the beginning of the Bulgarian alpinism. The longest cave in "Stara planina" mountain - "Temnata doupka" is situated at the foot of the rocks. The impetuous spring "Zhitoljub" catches the look of the passing cars through the highway Sofia-Svoge-Mezdra. See the picture gallery
Waterfall "Skaklya"
Waterfall "Skaklya", that has the same name of the fiver, falls in the eastern part of Ponor mountain, near Bov station. The bottom of Skaklya river-valley is surrounded by a 120 meters high limestone rock. The waterfall falls from this rock in three cascades, the highest of which is 85 m. The valley is occupied with meadows. A little further in the north is situated the rock "Zlatnia kamak". There is a carved path in the rocks wich is famous with the name "Vazov path". Here the famous Bulgarian author writes his short story "Grandfather Yotzo is looking".

Source: svoge.bg