and amazing time – either alone or with a loved one
WALK 1: TO THE WATER AND BACK – INSPIRATION NEAR PARVENETS
Sometimes you don’t need to travel far to feel far away from everything
Parvenets reminds us that beauty can be found in the familiar—if we look at it with fresh eyes
The trail to the Dermendere River waterfall is easy
and cool splashes bring us back to ourselves
and how could we skip the delicious dishes baked on tiles or sizzling skillets
especially with the irresistible aroma from the grill
we peek at others' tables and agree—we must order the Master’s Sizzling Dish (Sach Maistora)
Malkiyat Yavor sends us off very satisfied—and reminds us how easy it is to feel good
WALK 2: IN THE EMBRACE OF TIME – HISARYA AND ITS SECRETS
Diocletianopolis – sounds like an ancient spell
it’s the heart of Hisarya—where every street tells stories of the power of the Roman Empire
the city was a favorite retreat for Roman aristocracy—not only for its mineral springs
We walk on streets built using the Hippodamian grid system—straight
We stop by the nymphaeum and imagine the magical dance of the water spirits
It’s a family gem with a lovely garden maintained like a favorite fairytale
filled with objects from travels and beautiful details that wordlessly tell stories of places
the food is another reason we keep coming back to Hisarya
we start with a fresh leaf salad with fruits and cheese
We greedily build on the flavor with a perfectly prepared and seasoned pork chop
But the true star of this lunch is the rabbit roulade – so tender
and juicy that we didn’t have time for a photo—only one of the licked-clean plates
enjoys a polenta with mushrooms and milk mousse
claiming it's the best they’ve ever had
And here comes the final trick for a perfect day in Hisarya: don’t skip dessert at “National”
That’s how lunch melts into the afternoon
and this restaurant becomes one of our absolute favorites
AND TIME FOR YOURSELF – USTINA AND VILLA YUSTINA
one afternoon with a glass of wine brings more peace than a whole vacation
And sometimes—that entire experience is gathered in one place
“Villa Yustina” is just such a place
As Plovdiv locals, we know the Yustina wines well
but if you haven’t tried them yet—do it
We quickly reach the restaurant at the “Yustina Villas” complex
where the chef reveals the secret to great taste: everything on the menu is prepared with fresh
Every dish is created in harmony with the wine
We settle in comfortably because the day calls for it—a glass of rosé in the moment: coral-pink in color
and the majesty of the Rhodope Mountains in the background
The taste reveals a silky texture and refreshing lightness
and the soul quietly sings with joy. No one wants to leave this paradise
and if you choose to stay—you’ll discover even more treasures
The village of Ustina is the heir of ancient Bessapara
located on the Roman road between Philippopolis and the Aegean Sea
Above it towers the Ustina Waterfall – a living echo of the mountains
The path to the “white swallow” perched above the village is short
The chapel is painted by local artists and maintained by donations from the faithful
how lovely it is to disconnect from the noise
A partial state of disaster has been declared in the municipalities of Hisarya
Bulgaria has been affected by a heat wave that hasn't eased for a week now and the forecast is for more scorching temperatures
The fires have affected the villages of Pesnopoy
Declaring a partial state of emergency will allow the mayors to take swift measures to fight the fires
the Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection and the emergency medical services
The teams of the Unified Rescue System are working round-the-clock to completely extinguish the fire
The state of disaster will last for a period of seven days
locals and workers from the local administration.
two large fires occurred in Gornoseltsi village
the Haskovo District Administration reported
One fire burned down more than 10 houses in the village of Gornoseltsi and is now moving in the direction of the neighbouring village of Pokrovan
Ivaylovgrad Mayor Diana Ovcharova told BTA
the village is surrounded by pine forest”
The fires can harm people's health and cause significant damage to agricultural crops
More than 15 teams of firefighters are participating in the efforts to extinguish the Gornoseltsi fire
Contacts +359 2 9262 210
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Its mix of wide-open countryside and hot springs capable of melting every knot of Covid-induced tension seem tailor-made for our socially distanced times
But while travellers may be familiar with its affordable beach resorts
Pre-Covid visitor numbers hit a record high in 2019 (9.3 million) yet its neighbours Romania and Greece still accounted for a quarter of all visits
Bulgaria’s natural resources offer huge potential to a far wider pool of international travellers
one that the country is now endeavoring to entice
Ministry of Tourism figures show the wide range of health and wellness opportunities available today
can a focus on health finally unlock its potential and lure a new post-Covid generation of modern traveller
Natural Appeal“When you look at what’s here
it's unique,” enthused Siyka Katsarova
President of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism and Vice President of the European Spas Association (ESPA)
It’s certainly not hard to argue the country’s natural gifts lend it an advantage
Bulgaria can muster springs and thermal pools to rival any in Europe
Here you’ll find some 80 springs tumbling out of the karst and black-pine slopes of the Rhodope Mountains
from the historic thermal waters of Hisarya
to the high-end spas and sun-drenched wineries of Sandanski where the average annual temperature is a mild 14.7C
Yet few outside travellers know about them
then a soak in mud before cleansing yourself in the Black Sea,” suggested Katsarova
who believes it’s a combination found nowhere else in Europe
Some of the largest mud pools in the world have formed here
Salt production has been central to Bulgarian coastal life since the 5th century BC
and the residue lye and mineral-rich dirt in the lakes around Pomorie Peninsula have long been an open secret among locals who lose no opportunity to cover themselves in it
there are enough natural wonders here to suggest Katsarova has a point
In Sapa-reva Banya lies one of the world’s hottest geysers (and the only one in Continental Europe)
blasting 103C water 18 metres into the air every 20 seconds
head 60km north of Plovdiv to discover a little-known floral wonder
Bulgaria’s Rose Valley is among the biggest producers of rose oil on the planet
and the 17th Century arrival of a Turkish merchant who smuggled in the first Damask roses from Syria
rose-oil massages are de rigueur among travellers visiting its spas
while the first inklings of June’s petal-picking season sees villages erupt in colourful folk festivals
That’s the curious thing about Bulgaria’s “new” wellness boom
Just like the mud baths and mineral springs
What the Romans Knew…Go back as far back as 6,000 BC and experts believe areas such as Hisarya were inhabited because of their “healing” waters
When the Romans arrived in the 1st century AD
and Odessos (Varna) were all built around vast thermal complexes that were central to life here
“Most Romans visited them daily,” explained Georgi Georgiev of Varna’s Regional Museum of Archaeology
“They were used for everything: cleansing
political agitation – more than one plot was launched from a bath.”
What remains of the thermae at Varna measures some 7,000 square metres in size
“They’re the fourth-largest in Europe,” Georgiev proudly declared
“behind only Rome and Trier.” Or at least they are for now
and in 2020 traces of one of the earliest Roman settlements on the Danube were found near Vidin
“The excavation is just beginning,” Georgiev told me excitedly
“but its thermae would appear to be about 8,000 square meters
Few travellers think of Bulgaria as one of the great centres of the Classical period
but the strength of its finds suggest otherwise
Roman emperor Constantine even lived in Sofia (then Serdica) when hunting for a more central capital for the empire
Its Roman foundations are still eagerly explored by visitors
Rome was divided and attacks by Gothic tribes took their toll on Thrace
Locals could no longer afford the large thermae and many were dismantled
The only surprise is that it has taken 1,600 years for the mineral spas of Hisarya and Varna to find fame again
what has changed to finally put Bulgaria on the international wellness map
new highways and increased flight connections all help,” she enthuses
and Bulgaria’s reputation for affordable travel makes it appealing
The country’s natural gifts sync neatly with rising pre-pandemic trends in wellness travel and a wider movement in people seeking out-door adventures post-lockdown
The country’s investment in winter sports and its wealth of hiking trails offers plenty for 2022’s nature-conscious travellers to conjure with
Bulgaria feels like the “secret” wellness destination the Thracians
Romans and half of Europe has known about for the past 2,000 years
at long last it looks like it can fulfil the promise it’s always had
As mass travel prepares to gear up once again
it will be interesting to see if the same thing prized two millennia ago may finally prove the key to unlocking its appeal today
The Bulgarian Ministry of TourismThe Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism works for positioning Bulgaria as a safe
secure and preferred year-round tourist destination with national identity
Focus is on sustainable growth of main tourism products and on development of specialized types of tourism
improving the quality of the national tourism product and its competitiveness
Wax figures of ancient mythical rulers will welcome tourists in the Valley of Thracian Kings near Kazanlak
The design and installation of these is part of a project for the socialization of the Ostrusha cult complex
With funding from OP “Regions in Growth”
the Municipality of Kazanlak will restore and preserve the unique veneer with facet drawings and build a cycle lane between the cities of Kran and Shipka
It is also planned to build a tourist complex
It is in his throne room-museum that tourists will be able to take a photo with the wax figures of the Thracian kings
The Information Center will have a multifunctional room with 3D virtual reality
A total of BGN 31 million from the European program will be implemented by projects of the municipalities of Sofia
The funding will allow the construction of the North Wing of the Kremikovsky Monastery
An information center will be set up and a museum exhibit can be viewed
The project of the metropolitan municipality also includes the erection of a bell tower
the opening of monastery workshops for the production of sweets and syrups
visitors will also be able to study in the making of religious souvenirs
George’s Medieval Church will be restored
The Perperikon Visitor Center will also be upgraded with euro money and the southern gate of Diocletianopolis
the Thermae and the northeast corner tower in Hisarya will be restored
Municipalities may apply for tourism projects for a total of BGN 59 million by the end of 2021
to smell the air of the past times and to feel the legends in the air
And I'm lucky to have been born in a country with a glorious past and a lot of stories to tell
Bulgaria was founded more than 1,300 years ago and has never changed its name
their music and their art have changed over the centuries
I invite you to take a walk through the different ages of Bulgaria and to get to know it better
A beautiful woman with a wreath of roses will be the image of Bulgaria during the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo
A photo of her will be used for printing an anniversary stamp in Japan
Inspired by a painting by Vladimir Dimitrov - the Master
photographer Dimitra Lefterova initially planned to shoot a session with sunflowers
she decided to recreate the Bulgarian rose picking ritual
as she could compete in grace and perfection with the rose
The camera captured a teacher from the Bulgarian town of Hisarya
which seems to have absorbed the color of roses – just like in a painting by an artist
This photograph by Dimitra Lefterova became part of an exhibition in the Japanese city of Murayama and the hosts were so impressed that they printed a stamp with the image to represent Bulgaria during the Summer Olympics
Krasi is in the role of a rose picker wearing an authentic costume from the region of Hisarya
With this photo we wanted to show one of the most recognized Bulgarian symbols - the rose
The Japanese are very delicate people - they strive for perfection and love roses and flowers in general
as well as the beauty of women and nature
There are many beautiful women in Bulgaria and beautiful natural scenery
That is why it was normal for the Japanese to choose Krasi to represent our country
Krasi grew up in a family of folk singers and frequently went to concerts and danced as a child
In the photo I am wearing a striped cotton shirt decorated with hand-knit lace
The vest is made of velvet and embroidered with colored threads and on my waist I have a beaded belt
The costume was worn until the mid-20th century and is typical of the region of Hisarya
I inherited it from my grandmother and it is very precious to me
I am collecting folk costumes and so far I have collected costumes from all the folklore regions of Bulgaria
But this one is the closest to my heart and I love wearing it very much
What is it like to wear a traditional Bulgarian costume
At folklore gatherings I meet people who also wear national clothes and the energy is very nice as that is how one returns to their roots
We know that our grandmothers put a lot of effort into making these clothes with their own hands
It is the decorations and embroidery that have encoded their dreams and symbols for health
Krasi Kisiova organizes the “Haidut Gencho” folklore gathering in Hisarya
dedicated to the local protector during the times of Ottoman oppression
She has also been dreaming of visiting Japan and the city of Murayama where nature is similar to that in the Bulgarian Rose Valley
so it is not by chance that the city has one of the largest rose gardens with 750 species
the Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics team will stay in Murayama
where they already have a 400-member strong fan club
Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6)
we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition
Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut
The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo
The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora
is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May
we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three.
english@bnr.bg
We have already revealed to you the destinations for rest among mineral springs near the city under the hills and even made a selection of the wellness centers in Plovdiv
we both want to escape the town and relax in peace
and we don't want to spend a paycheck's worth for just a weekend
That's why the only digital guide under the hills has selected for you the more budget-friendly vacation spots where you can also enjoy treatments and swim in warm pools all year round
the favorable climate and fertile soils have attracted people to these lands since ancient times
There are three mineral springs with healing properties on its territory
Strelcha was declared a town and a national resort and since then it welcomes numerous guests and tourists in a peaceful and unpretentious environment
The surroundings and the town offer wonderful conditions for relaxation and balneotherapy
The mineral water and the procedures prescribed by the specialists have a good effect on the musculoskeletal system
endocrine system; they treat diseases of the cardiovascular system
In addition to the bathhouse in the town center and the spa centers in the hotels
you can also take advantage of the Bancheto mineral spring
the spring is landscaped and works during the warm months of the year
It consists of two rooms with two separate pools
the town of Banya arose thanks to the presence of mineral water
as well as the production of wines and essential oils - rose
The wine and oil industries grew with the arrival of the two Bagarov brothers
Ivan Bagarov's mansion has been turned into a luxury establishment
Tsar Boris III himself stayed in Velizar Bagarov's house for treatment
The "Royal Bath" was built especially for him
In the town there is a specialized hospital for rehabilitation with a hotel part
It belongs to the year-round climate resorts and is suitable for vacation at any time of the year
Important features are the presence of a deposit with mineral-peat mud
as well as the properties of the mineral water
It helps with diseases of: the musculoskeletal system
the peripheral nervous system and the spinal cord
It was originally part of the village of Kosovo
although it is twice as close to the other neighboring place Narechen
it grew and developed as a separate village
the first bathhouse for public balneotherapy was opened there
Narechenski Bani were already a well-known destination for holiday excursions and vacations in Bulgaria
The first spa sanatorium was opened in 1927
and in 1935 a military sanatorium was commissioned
when Germany built a new building for the rehabilitation of its military pilots
the area of Narechenski Bani (from the village of Kosovo) was recognized as a separate settlement - the village of Narechenski Bani
A number of departmental treatment and rest centers were built
The resort had its greatest development in the 1980s and 1990s
A number of diseases are treated in Narechenski Bani: of the nervous system
Mineral water successfully treats about 13 serious diseases from the main 4 groups
It is the only one in Bulgaria that is used for the treatment of neuroses
There are 3 balneosanatoria: two state - under the military and health ministries and 1 private
Around Narechenski Bani there is nature with a healing effect, combined with that of mineral water. It is suitable for outings and tourism, and if you are there, don’t miss to eat from the legendary mekitsi, which we told you about in our article about 3 restaurants around Plovdiv that you shouldn’t miss.
A small town at the foot of Sredna Gora in Central Bulgaria helps in healing various diseases and offers spa rejuvenating treatment
one of Bulgaria’s most famous spa and wellness resorts
keeps receiving people who believe that a strong spirit abides in a strong and healthy body
The spring carries around the scents of flowers and the summer offers cool shades
Hisarya’s greatest treasure is its mineral baths
each boasting a unique chemical composition
The healing properties of these waters were known by the ancient Romans
who being attracted by the region’s abundance established the fortified town of Diocletian
the town of Hisaya has preserved the remains of beautiful palaces
early-Christian basilicas and administrative buildings
Walking around the town one can see the fortified stone-carved and tile-covered wall of the onetime Roman town
In the past Hisarya’s baths offered relaxation and health boosting
Its visitors underwent rejuvenating and beautifying procedures carried out by druids
receive numerous clients from Bulgaria and abroad
physiotherapist Yana Hristozova has been working at a local hotel with modern spa and wellness facilities
She says that the interest in the spa centre is so big that at the moment the staff can hardly attend to all of their clients
Hisarya’s mineral waters are good for kidney diseases and those attacking the gastrointestinal track
The town receives most of its guests in the warm months
From the beginning of May we start receiving a lot of Israeli tourists
as well as treatment with lye and mud from the Dead Sea
We have got acupuncture and laserpuncture studios
we offer thalassotherapy for losing weight
To deal with the crisis last winter local hotel-keepers significantly reduced the prices of accommodation and spa packages
in late February some hotels literally burst at the seams with tourists
The snowfalls and minus temperatures typical of the season could not put visitors off the outdoor warm swimming pools
It is not only the healing properties of Hisarya’s mineral water that make it so unique
It also has a relaxing effect on the body and after the first mineral water treatment your skin becomes soft as silk
Surely you can trust Hisarya’s physiotherapists and masseurs
After a nice treatment you can have a walk around the remains of the former town of Diocletian and drop by local restaurants to taste the region’s delicious dishes
you will be fascinated with Hisarya’s green parks filled with the scents of rare tree species
The town abounds in mineral springs containing various chemical elements and healing properties
Each spring in Hisarya has its own history
The legend about it tells of a beautiful maid who was forcibly made to serve in the harem of a local Turkish chieftain
One evening he forced the lass to serve his guests naked
No sooner had she stood in front of them with a tray than she struck the bey on the head and he dropped dead
As a punishment she was thrown at the stake
The flames had hardly engulfed her body when two warm tears broke out of her eyes and spurted a healing stream
the sculpture of a maid carrying a tray high above her head stands at the centre of Hisarya
Hisarya is also compelling for its old houses from 20 century
when the mineral baths tourism in the region flourished immensely
you can see numerous luxury and spa hotels that stand out against the backdrop of the tumbledown mineral baths facilities left from Socialism
Today Hisarya attracts the lovers of peace and healthy retreat and is soon about to upstage the famous town of Velingrad in the Rhodopes
which has been proclaimed a spa capital of the Balkans
English version: Vyara Popova Photos: Veneta Nikolova
Bulgaria’s Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and Zurab Pololikashvili
Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism)
have officially signed the agreement for Bulgaria to host the 9th Global Conference on Wine Tourism,.
The Mini Bulgaria Park is an unusual place for a tourist tour
spiritual culture and natural landmarks of Bulgaria meet
Gorna Oryahovitsa often remains undeservedly hidden from the eyes of tourists
even though it is only about 10 km away from Bulgaria's old capital
which lies at the foot of the Balkans on the banks of the.
Airlines shall have to provide to the State Agency for National Security (SANS) booking data of passengers and crews of transport aircraft
This is part of the final changes to the SANS Act passed by parliament
Under the amendments the national unit for processing of passenger information at SANS set up in 2017 shall carry out evaluation of passengers and the crew in a bid to prevent possible terrorist attacks
Data will be kept for a period of five years
Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington
where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7
The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference
The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions
expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani
The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Greece Georg Georgiev and Giorgos Gerapetritis signed a joint declaration on the use of the waters of the river Arda on 2 May
the BNR reports citing an announcement published by the Greek Foreign Ministry..
people will be able to withdraw money from ATMs only in the new currency
according to the website of the Bulgarian.
helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day.
Funding has been secured for the European programs “Care at Home” and “Hot Meal”
It is 21 years today since the tragedy in the River Lim on the border between Serbia and Montenegro
in which 12 Bulgarian children were killed
a group of 34 students and 16 adults from Svishtov were returning home from a school trip to Dubrovnik
the bus driver lost control as he was rounding a turn on the mountain road and the bus plunged into the river
friends and relatives of the children paid tribute to the 12 children who were killed
The parents of the children who lost their lives in the accident said that they had spent years fighting for a change in the legislation connected with the transportation of children at night-time
They were adamant that the measures taken at the time were only temporary and that there has been no real change
No politician came to the cemetery to honour the children’s memory
BNR’s correspondent Zdravka Maslyankova reports
the parents will travel to the place where their children died to lay flowers at the monument on the border between Serbia and Montenegro
“A war is being raged on the roads of Bulgaria
which claims as many lives as a local armed conflict
Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev said at the annual conference entitled “Safe Road Infrastructure” held in the town of Hisarya
“There is such an interest only when a serious road traffic accident occurs and the interest is related to minimizing the media damage”
there should be a state policy to address this issue
there should be some kind of a long term strategy
which should be adopted by the relevant state institutions”
Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova subscribes to a gradual removal of sanctions against Russia
Talking to Nova Television she said: “In principle this position has not changed given that these sanctions have not yielded the results that everyone expected
Bulgaria is not alone in this position – there are many voices even in Germany not to mention a declaration voted by the French parliament for lifting sanctions
because they harm the interests of the average citizens of European countries.”
At the end of December EU sanctions against Russia were extended by another six months
Discussion of sanctions will reopen in late 2017