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If you decide to take time out from your hectic lifestyle, you simply must visit the town of Bansko. A treasure under the protection of the Pirin Mountains, this town has preserved its traditional atmosphere, with the cobblestone streets, the fortress-houses with high gateways and thick walls, and long eaves of black fir. The multitude of taverns and restaurants have kept their authentic style, and the hospitality of the local people makes you want to return to the haven of the Pirin Mountains. In 1979 Bansko was declared a unique settlement of international
importance for the tourism industry. The Pirin National Park, which
is included in the territory of Bansko municipality, is in the
world culture and natural heritage list of UNESCO and the UN. The ‘Banderishki
skok’ waterfall, the ‘Svatbata’ (‘Wedding’)
rock formation, the Banderitsa cave and seven venerable trees,
among which is the ‘Baykusheva mura’ black fir, are
preserved specimens of nature. |
Bansko is a town that offers its own history, architectural style, way of life and customs. The house of Nikola Vaptsarov (a renowned Bulgarian poet) was the first museum in the Pirin area, and is still one of the most frequently visited tourists spots. The original wall-paintings and wood-carvings of the Velyanov house make it an interesting cultural monument. The Benina house has been transformed into a museum of Neophyte Rilski (a well-known Renaissance figure in Bulgaria,) and the old Hilendarski cloister houses an exhibition of paintings from the famous Bansko art school. Another attraction of the town is the Sveta Troitsa church, built in 1835.
The magic of Pirin snow doubles the population of Bansko in the winter, with guests from abroad and from all parts of Bulgaria. The resort has the best and most perfectly formed ski-pistes in the country. The investment of 20 million Euros by the Yulen company, with municipal partnership, for a ski area, with Bansko at its centre, has been recouped many times over.
The ski area encompasses the ‘Banderishka Planina’ hut (Banderishka valley, Tomba pistes,) Todorka peak (including Plateau 1, Plateau 2, Banderitsa, Balkanida and Vihren peak pistes,) the Shiligarnika area (including Shiligarnika 1 and 2, Balkanida and Yulen pistes) and the Plateau (including Plateau 1 and Plateau 2 pistes.) The biggest and best ski-school in the region of Bansko has at its disposal more than 120 instructors for novice and advanced skiers and snowboarders. The ‘Junior Club’ ski kindergarten offers to its young members a variety of entertainment: three children’s ski-lifts, the ‘Magic Carpet’ ski-path and a toddlers’ merry-go-round. |
The most magical place for skiing in deep powder snow is the Todorka ski-run on the Todorka peak. This is familiar to fans of extreme skiing and snowboarding as the best place to free-ride in Bulgaria, because only here can you ski down a hill with so little effort so quickly. Although it rains more in this area, the inclines are stable, and the track slopes are long. The century-old black firs keep the snow crisp and good for skiing, even in sunny weather.
This winter again the ski-runs of Bansko, with a total length of 56 km, will attract Bulgarian and foreign tourists who have decided to make their stay unforgettable. In the 2004 – 2005 season the resort was visited by about 400,000 tourists, and this season 10% growth is expected. About 100 hotels will be open during the new winter season in Bansko. Besides its unique spirit, Bansko offers also the most dynamic private investments in the tourist sector. New investments are expected in the resort because it is a candidate for co-hosting the Winter Olympics in 2014. Property in Bansko is a perfect investment, because it can be used all year round, and it’s comparatively cheap – half the price of a property in the Alpine resorts. That’s a reason why property values went mad for a period of three months at the end of 2003, with land prices doubling, even trebling in some cases, and then calmed down. Since then values have been pretty steady there – until now, when they’re starting to creep up again – says the Director of Bulgaria Properties Ltd., Steve Avery. To try to cope with it, there have sprung up many hotels and apartment projects. Their price varies from 1,000 to 1,350 Euros per square metre. People buy them probably because a 1 bedroom 60sq.m. apartment for €60,000 is still a far better deal than you’d get in Spain. (Comments by Mr. Avery.)
In brief:
- The nearest international airport – Sofia (about 2 hours by car)
- The highest ski-piste – 2,560 m
- Total length of the ski-pistes – 56 km
- Longest ski-piste – 3.5 km
- 6 ski-lifts, 1 8-person Gondola, 7 drag-lifts and 10 children’s drag-lifts
- Main exposure of the slopes – north
Information courtesy of "Tourism & Property" magazine,
Plovdiv - November 2005.
Details about price madness in Bansko, golf developments in Bulgaria,
and new apartments in Bansko and Borovets can be seen at the Bulgaria
Properties Ltd web site www.BulgariaProperties.net.
You can e-mail questions to advice@BulgariaProperties.net,
or, if you have no Internet connection, call the company (in UK)
at 0871 226 2296 to order a free 30-page hand-out, or just for a
chat, if you prefer. They always have time for you.
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