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Southwestern Bulgaria >> Bansko ski resort
Its name is related with the ancient Bulgarian word ban (from boean, boyan) which means master. It is 160 km south of Sofia, 60 km south-east of Blagoevgrad, 6 km south of Razlog and 51 km north of Gotse Delchev. Bansko is the entrance to the most beautiful Bulgarian Mountain - Pirin and one of the biggest winter resorts in the country. If one adds to this its architectural and historical value, Bansko is a pearl in the Bulgarian necklace.
History. The town rose up on its present location around 9th-10th centuries after the formation of the adjacent quarters of Bansko. In the middle of 18th century, Bansko was a big and rich settlement developing crafts and trade. The caravans of Bansko traders travelled to the Aegean Region and to Middle Europe transporting tobacco, poppy seeds from Serr, cotton, processed skins, precious goods, gold. Bansko lived its Golden Age in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century when it reached economic and cultural boom - the Bansko School of Art was established. The resentatives of this school introduced many secular and historical themes in art. Monastery schools and a mutual school were opened. However, Napoleon's Wars against Austria and the opening of the waterway along the Danube River put an end to its growth. In the middle of 19th century, the economy of the town suffered decay. According to the resolutions of the Berlin Treaty Bansko was left within the boundaries of the Turkish Empire and its inhabitants actively participated in the consequent rebellions - Kresna-Razlog Uprising (1878-1879) and the Ilinden-Preobra-zhenie Uprising (1903). The town was liberated from the Turkish rule on 5th October 1912 (the Balkan War). Bansko is the native place of the titans of Bulgarian Revival Paisii Hilendarski and Neofit Rilski.
Landmarks. First, this is the Sveta Troitsa (St. Trinity) Church (the biggest and the richest in the region of Pirin Mountain); its construction was completed in 1835. The church strikes the viewer with beautiful frescoes and woodcarvings made by Master (Ousta) Velyan Ognev. The most outstanding representative of the Bansko School of Art -Dimitar Molerov, painted the icons. The size of the temple is impressive - too big for that time. A thirty-meter high stone tower rises up in the yard of the church (built by Master Grigor Doyuv in 1850) with a belfry and a clock made by Todor Hadzhiradonov and installed in 1869. It is located in the centre of the town behind a high stone fence. The Holy Virgin Church built in 14th century and restored at the end of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century has a wonderful wood carved iconostasis. The native house of Neofit Rilski - preserved in its initial outer appearance and known as the Benina's House. It is located by the neighbouring St. Trinity Church at 17, Pirin Street (tel.: 07443 4005). The native house of the poet Nikola Vaptsarov - in the centre of the town, on the square named the same way. The Velvanov's House - a monument dating back to the Revival; one of the most beautiful houses having a rich fresco decoration and fine woodcarvings (2, Velyan Ognev Street, tel.: 07443 4181). The Sirleshtov's House is a small fortress. The special role of this house in Bansko is evidenced by the one-meter thick stonewalls, the narrow and dark loop-holes, the iron bars on the windows and the heavy doors. The Todev's (Buinov's) House is an illustration of construction mastership and the delicate sense of beauty in everyday life. It was built in 1835. Bansko House of Culture and Art Gallery (tel.: 07443 2292, 5504, 5096). The monument of Father Paisii Hilendarski is in the centre of the town at the place of his native house.
Accommodation and catering. As one of the biggest resorts in Bulgaria, Bansko practically offers unlimited opportunities in this respect satisfying visitors of different financial status. The tourists have at their disposal more than 40 private (predominantly family-type) hotels and more than 100 restaurants and bars. Here is a small part of them: the biggest and most luxurious hotel in the town is the 4-star Bansko Hotel (17, Glazne Str); the Izvori Hotel (3-star), 5 km away from the town in Pirin among a beautiful coniferous wood in the area called Chalin Valog; the Strazhite Hotel Complex (2-star), one of the biggest in Bansko (Glazne Street); the Pirin Hotel (2-star), the oldest in the town (68, Tsar Simeon Street, in the centre). The following are 2-star hotels: the Albert Hotel located in a silent street in the central part of the town; the Aneli Hotel; the Hadzhirouskovi Kashti Hotel with a big tavern; the Boyanova Kashta Hotel, the Bunderitsa Hotel (5, Bunderitsa Street); the Dzhangal Hotel (24, Gotse Delchev Street); the Tipik Hotel (15, Todor Aleksandrov Street) and many others. All of them have preserved the town's typical style helping the visitor to enjoy the atmosphere of ages gone long ago. Almost every hotel offers original Bulgarian cuisine, typical for the region but there are restaurants, which are worth visiting. These include the Todeva Kushta Wine Bar (7, Neofit Rilski Street; the Dedo Pene Pub in the Pampoulov's House (1, Aleksandar Bouynov Street); the Lovna Sreshta Tavern in the Molerov's House (29, Pirin Street); the Poptodorov's Tavern (1, Dimitar Talev Str); the Sharkov's House Tavern (26, 5th October Street); the Alex Pizza Restaurant (14, Ohrid Str); the Beli Noshti Restaurant in the Vakanov's House (1, Yane Sandanski Street); the Motikata Restaurant in the western part of the town at the exit to the Mt. Vihren and Vihren, etc.
Tourist information regarding all issues of interest to the visitor can be obtained at Tourist Information Centre, 2770 Bansko, 2, N. Y. Vaptsarov Sq., tel.: 07443 5048); Chamber of Tourism (Union of Private Hotel Managers), tel.: 07443 5016 and fax: 07443 5139); the Vihren Tourist Association (4, Vuzrazhdane Square, tel.: 07443 2683, 2271 and tel. /fax: 07443 2641). The Mountain Rescue Service in Bansko (100, Pirin Street, in the western part of the town at the exit to the mountain, tel.: 07443 3075, 3076).
Transport. The basic type of transport that connects the town to the rest of the country is the bus transport. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev, Razlog, Dobrinishte and many other villages in the district. The bus station is modern and spacious. It is located in the eastern end of the town on the main road Sofia-Blagoevgrad-Gotse Delchev, by the railway station (tel.: 07443 2441, 2420). Bansko is the last but one station on the narrow-gauge line Septemvri-Velingrad-Dobrinishte. The railway station is behind the bus station (tel.: 07443 2215).
Surrounding areas. Most impressive is the legendary Pirin Mountain. The greater part of the tourist flow heading for the mountain goes through the town. In the immediate vicinity are the Chalin Valog Ski-Centre, the Shiligarnika Ski-Centre - one of the biggest in Bulgaria (refer to the Pirin Mountain related section herein), Damyanitsa, Bunderitsa and Vihren Chalets as well as the highest Mt. Vihren (refer to the Pirin related chapter herein). 6 km south of Bansko is the village of Dobrinishte (final station on the narrow-gauge line from Septemvri). It is one of the largest villages in the country with a population of over 3000 inhabitants. There are 17 mineral springs with water temperature between 30 and 43 �C, as well as a big mineral public bath. The town is a point of departure to the Gotse Delchev, Mocharata and Bezbog Chalets and to the Bezbog Ski-Centre (refers to the Pirin Mountain related section herein). There are a number of private hotels in the village as well as a Tourist House. There is a bus line to Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Razlog, Bansko, Gotse Delchev, etc. The bus station is near the railway station, about 1 kilometer east of Dobrinishte. Of great interest are the following sights: the basilica and the necropolis in the Shipotsko Area; Bansko karst springs in the area of Murtva Polyana; a ceramic workshop dating back to late antiquity; the Stana Kale Fortress of late antiquity and a necropolis, a Thracian fortress and necropolis together with early Christian basilica in St. Nickola Area; Thracian mound in the area of Lisicha Mogila; the Birth of the Holy Virgin Church.
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Central Southern Bulgaria
Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa, Pazardzhik, Koprivshtitsa, Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer, Hissarya - spa resort, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Chepelare, Smolyan, Devin, Pavel Banya, Kazanluk, Stara Zagora, Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzhali | Southeastern Bulgaria
Svilengrad, Elhovo, Yambol, Sliven, Kotel, Karnobat, Aitos, Malko Turnovo | Northwestern Bulgaria
Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Belogradchik, Vidin, Kozlodui, Oriahovo, Montana, Vratsa, Mezdra, Botevgrad, Etropole, Yablanitza, Cherven bryag, Loukovit, Lom | Central Northern Bulgaria
Teteven, Troyan, Apriltzi, Lovech, Pleven, Nikopol, Svishtov, Pavlikeni, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Byala, Rousse | Southwestern Bulgaria
Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Bansko ski resort, Razlog, Blagoevgrad, Doupnitsa, Samokov, Kyustendil, Pernik, Pirdop and Zlatitsa, Panagyurishte, Kostenets, Velingrad | Northeastern Bulgaria
Pliska, Shoumen, Veliki Preslav, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Toutrakan, Silistra, Dobrich, Provadia | Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Shabla, Roussalka, Kavarna, Balchik, Albena, Zlatni Pyasutsi (GOLDEN SANDS), St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna, Kamchia, Obzor, Elenite, Slunchev Bryag (SUNNY BEACH), Nessebar, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Dyuni, Primorsko, Kiten, Tsarevo, Ahtopol | Bulgarian Mountains
Rila, Rila Monastery, Borovetz, Malyovitza, Pirin, Melnik and The Rozhen Monastery, Shiligarnika, Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountain), KOM - Emine Route, The Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Vitosha |
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