Everything about Bansko totally explained
Bansko is a town and ski resort in southwestern
Bulgaria, located at the foot of
Pirin at an altitude of 925
m above sea level. It is considered to be the most developed Ski and Winter Resort in
Eastern Europe, and is one of the best in Europe.
Bansko is the birthplace of 20th century Bulgarian poet
Nikola Vaptsarov and Bulgarian enlighteners
Paisiy Hilendarski (sometimes disputed) and Neofit Rilski.
Legends
There are several legends about who founded Bansko. According to one of them, Bansko was founded by people who lived in
Dobarsko, a village in
Rila, itself according to a legend founded by the blinded army of Tsar
Samuil.
Another legend claims that Bansko was founded by an
Italian painter by the name of Ciociolino, hence the existence of the name Chucholin in Bansko.
Still according to another version it was a
Slavic tribe called the Peruns, who lived in Pirin and worshiped
Perun, that founded the village later to become a town. There are a number of ethnographic texts, legends, prayers and oratories, which lend credence to this legend.
History
The archeological traces of the inhabitants of Bansko and the
Razlog Valley in general date to the early periods of the
Roman Empire.
There are several housing structures at the outskirts of the town, which date to
100 BC. However, there's no consensus nor credible theory on who these people were.
The Bulgarian
Evangelical Church Community, the first
Protestant church in Bulgaria, was founded in Bansko on
6 August 1868.
(External Link
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Until
5 October 1912, Baniçka (Bansko's former name) was a part of the
Ottoman Empire, but enjoyed a quasi self-rule autonomy granted by the sultan. The town was ruled by an assembly of the elders, while justice was administered by the Turkish judge in
Razlık. It was incorporated in Bulgaria in 1912 as a result of the
First Balkan War.
Bansko today
Bansko, once mainly a stockbreeding and travelling merchant community, has nowadays become a center of winter and summer tourism. The mountain peaks near the town, the numerous lakes and the old pine woods make it a popular site for recreation. In recent years, the town has gained international popularity after the start of the annual
Bansko Jazz Festival and consequently the annual Bansko pop-star concert featuring top pop stars. The nearby village of
Banya, located only 5 km from the town, is known for its 27
thermal mineral springs.
A new
gondola lift was built in 2003 to replace a minibus ride up to the ski slopes of Todorka. Several other gondolas and ski lifts are in the process of being built. These developments, along with the construction of extensive housing and recreational facilities around the gondola (which is on the southwest end of the town by the river), have made Bansko a popular and growing destination.
The town is served by a scenic
narrow gauge railway from
Septemvri to
Dobrinishte.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Bansko'.
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