FEATURE ARTICLE: So Near, so spa

Bulgaria is blessed with natural springs and you can find all the types of mineral waters known to our planet. There are over 600 hydro-mineral sources with a capacity of 270 million litres per day, hot and cold, springing from a great depth that guarantees their pureness.

Bulgaria is a yet undiscovered Spa gem, every part of this beautiful country has access to a wealth of natural springs. Let’s start with a small town located in the heart of Bulgaria called Banya, the location of the Karlovski Mineral Baths. It is set at the foot of Sredna Gora Mountain and is famed for its healing mineral springs. There are more than 10 springs in the town, the biggest one being the ‘Tsarskata Banya’ (the King’s Bath), which is located in the former estate of Tsar Boris III. The balneological centre also boasts 3 well-kept outdoor mineral-water pools, a mineral water bath and a healing mud site.

If you travel to the east for about an hour, you will come to the city of straight streets, linden trees and poets - Stara Zagora. The city is one of the oldest settlements in Europe, being at least eight thousand years old. The Starozagorski Mineral Baths resort is located about 12 km from the city, where you will also find interesting sights left to us by the Thracians and the Romans; pools made from transparent marble, baths and sacrificial altars. You should also try not to miss the area called Virgin Mary’s Step (Bogorodichna stupka), a rock formation which bears a resemblance to a woman’s footprint, which legend says was left by the Virgin Mary.

Bankya is a health resort located about 17 km west of the capital Sofia and it’s set on the green hills of the Lyulin Mountain, surrounded by picturesque parks and gardens to the south and west. Bankya offers excellent sanatorium and resort accommodation, cosy hotels and private lodgings, as well as the famous Bankya Beach – modern swimming pools with mineral water for everyone to enjoy. You could take a long walk in the lush green woods enjoying the clean air, or lie beside the mineral water pool enjoying the sun and the calmness of the area. There are plenty of sites to see as the area is rich in Roman ruins, as well as monasteries and churches. All of this is well within a day-trip from Beli Iskar, so why not explore?

Close to the border with Greece is the lovely village of Ognyanovo, nestling about 12 km to the northeast of the town of Gotse Delchev, in the magnificent Rhodopi Mountains. There are 24 thermal springs in the area and the average temperature of the water is 40°С. The region is characterised with a unique microclimate, which is a result of the flowering of the acacias and of the local air currents along the valley of the Kanina River. Besides enjoying the mineral springs you can also visit the ruins of the Roman city of Nikopolis Ad Nestum, located just a short drive from Ognyanovo. Also look out for the village of Kovachevitsa, which preserves the specific Rhodopi architecture and atmosphere from the time of the Bulgarian Revival period.

About 200 km to the northeast is the grandest mountain range in Bulgaria - Stara Planina, a village called Shipkovo and more specifically the Shipkovski Mineral Baths. Shipkovo is located on the northern slopes of Sredna Stara Planina (the mid section of Stara Planina), 20 km to the west of the town of Troyan. The village got its name from its first settlers and legend tells that the village was surrounded by dog-roses (shipka means dog-rose). In the last few years the resort has become more and more popular, there are already quite a few holiday homes, villas and hotels, as well as mineral water pools and a pleasant beach. The untouched nature, the crisp mountain air, the mild winters and the cool summers create perfect conditions for complete relaxation and Spa treatments.

Across from Stara Planina is a small village called Merichleri, about 60 km east of the city of Plovdiv. Close to the village is a mineral spring whose water ranks third in the world and the second in Europe for its content of minerals and chemical elements. Another attraction in the area is the Solentsi (salty) mineral pool which is full of healing water. The name of the pool has not been changed for many years not because of its temperature (34°С), but because it is, in fact, salty. In this stunning hideaway you can relax in a tranquil atmosphere and indulge in the healing waters.

Almost all of the mineral springs scattered around Bulgaria have been known for thousands of years and settlements have mushroomed around them only to be destroyed and later to be replaced. The magic powers of the mineral waters in the country are becoming more and more popular, as Bulgaria is turning into a much sought after tourist destination; it’s not just about the fantastic skiing and beaches, enjoy!

BULGARIA'S BLACK SEA AIRPORTS TO HAVE NEW TERMINALS BY 2011

Bulgarian Black Sea airports of Bourgas and Varna will boast new passenger terminals in 2011, the firm that holds the concession on the two airports, Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, has said.
The terminals will cost more than than 65 million euro to build, of which 36 million euro will be spent on Bourgas airport, 26 million euro on the one in Varna and seven million euro will be go to design and project management.
The Bourgas airport will have a larger and more expensive terminal given the bigger tourist numbers and bed capacity of the country's southern Black Sea coast. The airport serviced 1.6 million passengers in the first eight months of the year, compared to 1.1 million who landed at Varna airport.
Fraport will launch the procedure to pick the main contractor by end-September, with construction set to start in mid-2009.
The three-storey buildings will have similar design, with the luggage handling area underground, luggage pickup and check-ins on the first floor, while the second floor will host security and departure areas. The two terminals will not be equipped with air bridges, so passengers will be transferred by buses, Fraport technical director Karl Mai said.
The project will meet the requirements for seaside airports, which handle high number of passengers over short periods of time

Source: dnevnik.bg

BULGARIAN HOUSE PRICES RISE AGAIN

Bulgarian home prices gained more than 30 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2008, placing the country atop the global index of UK-based property consultancy Knight Frank, released on September 2.

Meanwhile, the number of countries with a price decrease is increasing. Price growth is slowing down in Western Europe, unlike Asia and Eastern Europe, which have been enjoying an upward trend. Bulgaria topped the ranking in terms of housing price growth for a fourth quarter in a row.This result clashed with Bulgarian real estate agencies’ data on a price slow-down since early 2008. Lower down on the Knight Frank list of price growth were Slovakia, with 31 per cent, and Russia, with 26 per cent. Second-quarter housing prices in the Czech Republic and Hong Kong rose by more than 25 per cent.

Source: dnevnik.bg

THE 39TH INTERNATIONAL "RALLY BULGARIA" VISITS BELI ISKAR

The usually tranquil streets of Beli Iskar were filled with the sound and excitement of powerful rally cars as the 39th International Rally Bulgaria once again visited Borovets. The roads were lined with spectators and journalists alike over the weekend of the 11-13th July 2008. The top Bulgarian road rally is an event with 38 years of history. From 1970 to 2001 the rally had its headquarters on the famous black sea coast. In 2002 the competition moved to southern central Bulgaria and has it’s start and finish in the top resort of Borovets.

The rally has an itinerary that totals 736 km and passes through stunning Bulgarian scenery. The race headquarters, start and finish line, podium and car preparation area were in Borovets and this year the first special stage ran through the roads around Borovets and Beli Iskar and proved a great challenge for both car and driver alike.