Spa Resorts: Sapareva Banya

 The town of Sapareva Banya situates on the Northern slopes of Rila Mountain in the South-western part of Bulgaria, approx. 2 hours drive from Sofia. The region is rich and popular tourist destination for places with natural beauty some of which are the Seven Rila Lakes, the Skakavitsa Reserve and Waterfall.
Sapareva Banya is known for its cool, clean mountain water and is famous for its unique geyser in the very centre of the town, surrounded by a large park and restaurant of the same name. Here you can find the hottest mineral water in all of
Europe (103 C) and the only active geyser in the Balkans spraying water 18 meters into the air every 20 seconds. Be sure to visit the geyser at night when the coloured lights at its base create a striking effect.


The resort town is built on the place of an ancient Thracian settlement, which in Roman time grew into the town Germanea. The fortress of Germanea was restored by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great (6th century). The main Roman road from Kyustendil via Samokov and Plovdiv to Constantinople passed through it. The fortress walls found there reveal the importance of of the settlement.

The St. Nikola Church from the 12th century is a sight of interest. Sapareva Banya is the birthplace of Velizarius - a renowned leader of Emperor Ustinian (527-565). The present and the past of the resort town are linked with the curative mineral springs.


There is a Tourist Hostel in Sapareva Banya - Verila, 400 metres to the west of the road for Dupnitsa, close to the spa. It is a complex of 13 two-room bungalows with 2-3 beds. There are several sanatorium in the town, where overnight is also possible, as well as several family hotels. Every hour there is a bus connection with Dupnitsa (at the bus station), as well as with Samokov and other settlements in the region. A private minibus to Panichishte Resort starts several times a day from the centre. There is a marked 2 hours long hiking trail. From Sapareva Banya one can set out for the St. Stefan Monastery (1.30 hours, 6 km along an asphalt road and a trail) and to the Ovcharenski (Shepherd's) Waterfall of River Goritsa (1.15 hours, 5 km along an asphalt road and trail). The resort is one of the most frequented outgoing points for North-Western Rila.
Sapareva Banya - Pictures Of Bulgaria

Sapareva Banya Health Centre is a short walk down from the geyser. Its services are preferable by patients with diseases of the upper respiratory system, nervous system, bones, joints, and skin for over 50 years. Here work specialists in mud treatments, hot water massage and physical therapy. The Sanatorium complex also contains an outdoor mineral water pool for use during the summer season.
In recent years the town of
Sapareva Banya has been improving its tourism infrastructure including new sidewalks, cafes and hotels constructed in the centre of the town and along the main road leading to the nearby mountain resort of Panichiste. Sapareva Banya's transformation into a nice resort has been due largely to its proximity to Sofia and its growing opportunities for mountain, ski, cultural and spa tourism.

Panichishte Mountain Resort is located 8 km away from the town of Sapareva Banya and offers optimal conditions for physical training in all varieties of sport, including football, volley ball, basketball, swimming, tennis, etc.
Panichishte resort offers accommodation on several hotels and hostels; a ski run of 470m equipped with a tow rope with a capacity of 280 people/hour; ski slope of 400m and tow rope with a capacity of 250 people/hour along with children's Ski Run; cross-country distance training run, which is to be equipped with shooting platforms for biathlon training. Additionally, there are 400m ski run with tow rope of 350 people/hour capacity, a natural sledding run of 1130m, a 300m ski run with a tow rope with 250 people/hour capacity and a 950m ski run with a tow rope with 700 people/hour capacity. Ski rentals and instructors are available at most locations.
Panichishte is the largest natural opening to the heart of
Rila Mountain. Many of the most popular hiking trails on Rila (to the Seven Lakes, Skakavitsa Reserve and Waterfall, Malyovitsa, Borovets and The Rila Monastery) start or pass through Panichishte.

The first village you will see entering our municipality is Resilovo located just 5 km East of Dupnitsa. The village is famous for having one of the very few functioning convents in Bulgaria. Known as the Mother of God Monastery, it is nestled in the forest just above the village. The monastery is open daily and services are held each Sunday morning. If you happen to be in the area in the fall, the first of October is the festival of the monastery. Traditional music can be heard, dance groups perform and excellent food and drink are available.

 

 

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