town, west-central Bulgaria. The town is located on the banks of the Struma River, 19 miles (31 km) southwest of Sofia. Originally a Bulgarian fortress well-known for repelling the assaults of the Byzantine armies during the early 11th century, Pernik was for five centuries (1396–1878) under Turkish rule. From 1891 Pernik began to experience considerable industrial growth because of the mining of rich veins of coal in the area, and it is now a leading industrial town in Bulgaria. The town's cultural centre is one of the finest in the country. Pernik also has a mining school, a large sports complex with a stadium, a national theatre, a symphony orchestra, a museum, and an attractive park. Pop. (2004 est.) 81,674.