Town of Bansko - Basic Information

Population: 9,058 inhabitants (as of 15 March 2024)Population density: 61.1 inhabitants/km²
Area: 148.28 km²
Altitude: 925 m
District: Blagoevgrad
Coordinates: 41.838238° N, 23.488451° E

Postal code: 2770
Phone area code: +359 749
Vehicle code: E
ECATTE code: 02676


Website:www.bansko.bg

Bansko is a town in the southwestern part of Bulgaria, the administrative center of the municipality of Bansko, Blagoevgrad district. In the 19th century, it was the centre of the Bulgarian population in the Razlog region on the territory bordering Greece and Turkey. Today the town is known mainly as a popular winter resort.

According to GRAO data as of 15 September 2023, the town has a population of 9,022 inhabitants by current address and 9,624 inhabitants by permanent address.

 

Klima

The town of Bansko is located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in south-western Bulgaria, which greatly influences its climate. Due to its location at an altitude of 925 metres and its proximity to the mountain massifs, Bansko has a typical mountain climate with significant seasonal differences.

Winters

Winters in Bansko are cold, with average temperatures around -2 °C to 2 °C. Snow cover is common from December to March, making the town a popular destination for winter sports. The slopes in the area are often covered with technical snow, ensuring stable conditions for skiing.

Summer

The summer months are mild and pleasant, with average temperatures around 25-30 °C. Thanks to the mountain surroundings, nights are cooler, providing relief from the heat. The summer season is ideal for hiking and outdoor activities.

Spring and autumnSpring and autumn are characterised by mild temperatures and changeable weather. Average temperatures range between 10 °C and 20 °C, with frequent alternating sunny and rainy days. These months are ideal for quiet walks and exploring the countryside.

Precipitation

Annual rainfall in Bansko is average, with the heaviest rainfall in spring and autumn. Winter is dry with minimal precipitation, most coming in the form of snow.

Influence of the mountain climate

The mountain climate contributes to the clean air that is valued by visitors. The combination of sunny days and a lush mountain environment makes Bansko an attractive destination all year round.

Bansko, thanks to its climate, is one of the best places in Bulgaria for winter sports and summer touring

 

Landmarks

Bansko is located at the foot of the Northern Pirin Mountains at an altitude of 927 metres. It lies 56 km from Blagoevgrad, 145 km from Plovdiv and 150 km from Sofia. The Pirin National Park begins near the town. Bansko is crossed by the river Glazne.

The climate is mountainous and allows snow cover to persist from December to April. The alpine character of the Pirin Mountains provides excellent conditions for professional and amateur skiing.

In the town there is a railway station of the narrow-gauge Septemvri-Dobrinishte railway and a bus station, which provides connections to all parts of Bulgaria.

History and cultural significance

Bansko is the administrative centre of the municipality. In the 19th century, it was the centre of the Bulgarian population in Pirin Macedonia in the territory bordering Greece and Turkey.

The town is the birthplace of important personalities such as Paisij Chilendarsky and Neofit of Rila, as well as the poet Nikola Vapcarov. Nowadays, Bansko is mainly known as a renowned winter resort.

 

Information about ski tourism can be found here.

https://banskoski.com/bg

 

Tourism

The highest point of the ski resort in Bansko is at an altitude of 2560 m above sea level, the lowest point is at 1000 m above sea level.The ski resort offers 75 km of slopes, of which 35% are for beginners, 40% for advanced skiers and 25% for experienced skiers and snowboarders.80% of the slopes are equipped with a system for artificial snow.

The resort also offers 16 km of ski trails, which are equipped with artificial snow and lighting and connect the higher parts of the resort with the town. There are:

a two-seater cable car with a capacity of up to 8 people,
one six-seater cable car,
six four-seater cable cars,
one three-seater cable car,
six ski lifts and
ten children's ski lifts.

Sport

In 2009, Bansko hosted a round of the Alpine Skiing World Cup. Since 2011, it has also hosted annual biathlon and Canadian wrestling competitions. The local football club FC Bansko participates in Group B of the Bulgarian Football Championship.

Sister cities
Bansko is a sister city with:

Amfipolis, Greece
Dimotika, Greece
Doxat (Doxato), Greece

 

 

Population and culture:

 

According to the finds, a militant Thracian tribe, mentioned by Homer in the Iliad, lived here.
Rich pottery, coins, glass objects, weapons and other artifacts have been found.
Settlement:

The remains of buildings, mostly warehouses, have been uncovered.
Based on layers found up to 3 meters underground, the settlement can be dated to 5000 BC.
Defense:The site was strategically chosen due to its good visibility and protective rocks to the east and north. A fortified wall was built on the south side.
Christian tradition:

In the early Christian period, a basilica was built here, which was a simple single-nave structure. On its site today stands the Chapel of St. Nicholas.
As no information has been found on the name of this settlement, the site is known as the "Nameless Town".

Cabinet HousesA set of buildings associated with the Bulgarian Revival.

 

Museums

• Old House in Bansko. Unique historical, architectural and artistic heritage, as well as important personalities, are presented by modern technology. The complex includes:
• Nikola Vapcarov House-Museum
• House of Art
• Ethnographic Exhibition-Bazaar
• Permanent iconographic exhibition
• House-Museum of Neofit Rilski
• City History Museum
• Historical Museum in the village of ElešnicaContains rich finds from the Neolithic period (6th-4th millennium BC).

 

 

Memorials

A characteristic feature of architecture in Bansko is the Bansko fortified house. The following monuments from the list of 100 national tourist attractions of the Bulgarian Tourist Board are located in the town:

Velian's House

Opening hours: 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday.
The seal is located in the Museum "Nikola Vaptsarov".
Neofit Rilski House-Museum

Opening hours: 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.
No closing days.
The seal is located in the Museum "Nikola Vapcarov".
Nikola Vapcarov House-Museum

Opening hours: 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00.
Without closing days.
The seal is available on site.
The permanent iconographic exhibition "Banska Art School"

Opening hours: 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday.
The seal is located in the Museum "Nikola Vapcarov".
The Holy Trinity Church

Opening hours: 7:30-18:00 (until 17:00 in winter).
The seal is available on site.
Nameless City and Early Christian Basilica (site of St. Nicholas)

Located 4 km east of Bansko.

In the highest part of the archaeological site, a fortress known as the "Nameless City" was uncovered. Archaeological excavations have revealed a necropolis and skeletons with an extraordinary height - almost 2 meters. This was unusual in its time, as the average height of people was much shorter at the time.It is believed that a militant Thracian tribe, mentioned by Homer in the Iliad, lived here.
Many artefacts were discovered: rich pottery, coins, glass objects (proving the wealth of the settlement, as glass was a very rare material at the time), ornaments, weapons and tools.

The remains of many buildings, especially warehouses, have also been uncovered.
In deeper layers (up to 3 meters), traces of human activity dating back to 5000 BC have been found, indicating that the site was inhabited by the ancestors of the Thracians.
The settlement was strategically located for protection:To the east and north it was protected by inaccessible rocks.

In the south, where the area was more vulnerable, a fortified wall was built.
The presence of an early Christian temple demonstrates that the city existed in Late Antiquity. On its site today stands the Chapel of St. Nicholas. As no information about the original name of this settlement has survived, it is known as the Nameless City.

The town is known as the "Nameless City".

Cabinet Houses

A collection of buildings associated with the revivalist movement.

Regular Events

January

January 1: "Happy New Year" - festive folklore concert, traditional Kukerian carnival.
Snowboarding for Bansko Cup - competition for all age groups, valid for "Bulgarian Cup" and "Nadezhdi Cup". Big Air.

February

Skiing competitions in alpine disciplines.

March

Pirin Cup - cross-country skiing (all age groups).
State Snowboarding Championships (disciplines: SBX, FIS, NC, KB categories).

Duben

State championship in alpine disciplines (men, women, juniors, girls, disciplines: SL, GS).
Republican championship in biathlon.
National Cup Pirin - alpine disciplines (disciplines: SL, GS).
April 18-24: Forest Week - thematic events dedicated to nature protection.

May

May 17-24: Celebration of local tradition - cultural programme with ethnographic and art exhibitions, thematic dinners and folklore demonstrations.
Folklore festival "Mezi třemi horami" - international showcase of authentic folklore.

June

June 1-4: "Green Week" - ecological events to mark World Environment Day.

July

Soccer Tournament.
July 1-7: Summer Theatre Festival.

August

Golden Armwrestling League - international armwrestling competition.
August 8-13: International Jazz Festival - free admission, held since 1997.

September

Children's Festival - dedicated to children, organized by sponsor Manfred Dohoda.
Pirin Folk Festival of Bulgaria - competition of Bulgarian original songs with participants from the Balkans.
October

October 5: Banska Town Day.
November

International arts festival "Morning Star".
November 25-29: International Mountaineering Film Festival.<br/p>

December

December 7: "Poets with Guitars" concert, dedicated to Nikola Vapcarov.
Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

Tourist Routes

- Route I, red marker / part of the international route E-4 Pyrenees - Alps - Rila - Pirine - Peloponnese /: h. " Limit " - h. " Javorov " /6 hours / - h. " Whirlwind " /9 hours / - shelter Tevno Lake /6,5 hours /. / - hrs. " Pirin " /4 hours / - m. Poppy meadows /7 hours /;
- Route no. II, yellow markings : fork for x. " Javorov " / the main road from the town of Blagoevgrad for the town of Reason / - town . Cresna /10.5 hours /;
- Route No. III, yellow marking : c . Bansko - m. Cave - h. " Bunderitsa " - h. " Vihren " - h. Jane Sandanski " /9 hours /;
- Route No. IV, blue markings : c. Bansko - h. " Demjanica " - h. " Begovitsa " - h. Jane Sandanski " /11 hours /;
- Route No. V, green markings : c. Dobriniste - h. Gotze Delchev " - h. " " - h. " Pirin " - town of Mělník /17 hours /;
- Route No. VI, brown markings : m. Cave - shelter " Sinanitsa " - m. Mozgovica - h. " Begovitsa " - m. Azmakova - h. " Pirin " /11 hours /;
- Route No. VII - green markings : x. " Bunderitsa " - m. Premkata /2.5 hours /;
- Route No. VIII, blue markings : x. " Vihren " - h. " Sinanitsa " /4 hours /;
- Route No. IX, green markings : x. " Vihren " - h. " Demyanitsa " /4 hours /;
- Route no. X, green markings : Prevalski jezera - m. Poppina luk /2 hours /;
- Route No. XI, yellow marking : x. " Demjanica " - h. " Boží " /4.5 hours/;
- Route No. XII, yellow markings : x. " Begovitsa " - h. " Pirin " /4,5 hours /;
- Route No. XIII, blue markings : x. " Pirin " - h. " Malina " - m. Vodopoya - m. Poppy meadows /6 hours /;
- Route No. XIV, blue markings : m. Breznishki chal - Popovo jezero - shelter Tevno jezero /9,5 hours /;
- Route No. XV, blue marking : s. Senokos - m. width - max Pirin /3 hours /;
- Route No. XVI, green marking : x. " Javorov " - m. Maple meadow /50 minutes /;
- Route No. XVII, brown marking : m. Harami well - Popovo jezero /3 hours /;
- Route no. XVIII, yellow markings : m. Izvorite / Kremenski jezero / - Mt Gianno /2,5 hours /;
- Route no. XIX, green markings : shelter Tevno jezero - m. Begovishka brána /1 hour /;
- Route No. XX, blue marking : m. Betelovoto - m. Bahno /1 hour/.

 

Eco routes

1. Eko trail Demyanishka rivulet

The trail starts 3 km from the road from Bansko towards the "Vichr" cottage and follows the bed of the Demyanishka River. The trail leads almost to the sources of the river at the Valyavishka lakes at an altitude of 2400 m.
The river is 14 km long, and about 1 km before the finish, near the "Demjanica" cottage, two beautiful waterfalls can be discovered, which were declared natural monuments in 1965:
Yulensky jump (height 9 m),
Demjanishki jump (height 11 m).
The "Demjanica" cottage is an ideal place to rest or spend the night. From here it is possible to continue on to the "Jane Sandanski" hut.
The length of the route from Bansko to the "Demjanica" hut is approximately 4-5 hours. The route is moderately demanding, but very attractive due to its beauty. It is one of the most picturesque eco-routes in the Pirin Mountains.

2. The "K Bashlici" eco-trail

This lesser known eco-trail starts near the town of Sandanski and leads along an asphalt road to the Popina luka.
After a 3-4 km walk, which starts on an asphalt and concrete road and changes to a gravel road, you will reach the starting point - the "Jane Sandanski" hut.
The trail follows the bed of the Bashlica River, which forms a picturesque valley.
The trail passes by the Popinolashka waterfall and contains information boards about the geological attractions of Pirin, local flora and fauna.
The final point of the trail is the mountain shelter "Spanish Camp". The length of the route is approximately 2.5 hours.

3. Dragostinovská charka eco-trail

This trail is specially designed for people with disabilities. It includes wheelchair-accessible walkways, rest areas, toilets, parking, playgrounds and information boards adapted to specific requirements.
The eco-trail passes through the Dragostinovská charka area, which lies 4 km above Bansko, near the asphalt road leading to the "Vichr" cottage.

4. Ekostezka "The Kingdom of the Protégé"

The trail starts in the area "Betolovo" above the town of Razlog and is well marked. The trail can be completed in 3-4 hours.
The hut "Javorov" can also be reached by car or bicycle. One day is enough for the return, but it is possible to spend the night in the "Javorov" hut, which offers excellent conditions.
The trail offers beautiful views of the Rila Mountains, Pirin and the whole Razlog valley.
The trail is educational and is marked with bear paw prints that point the direction. A bear's den and an eagle's nest can be seen along the way, as well as several waterfalls.
Information boards along the route describe the local flora and fauna. This area of the Pirin Mountains, from Vichr Peak to the Limit, is one of the few places where the alpine pronghorn (Edelweiss) grows.
Watch out! Picking flowers and collecting herbs is strictly forbidden.