Spa And Wellness in Bulgaria
Sandanski SPA and Minerall waters
The town of Sandanski is situated at the foot of Pirin Mountain. The river Sandanska Bistriza runs through the town and is part of its charm.
The Thracian ruins in the town of Sandanski speak of a Thracian settlement. The legend says that in the land of today’s town of Sandanski lived the Thracian leader Spartacus who belonged to the Thracian tribe Maedi. Spartacus was the leader of the First slave uprising in the Roman Empire. In the entrance of the town there is a statue of Spartacus. What attracted the Romans to these lands were the mineral springs. The settlement was declared a town in 2-3rd century and was given the name Particopolis. The Slavs later gave the town the name Sveti Vrach in honor of two brothers – the saints Cosmas and Damian. The brothers healed sick people with the power of Nature and the Christian faith. Later in 1947 the town was given the name Sandanski in honor of the revolutionary Yane Sandanski.
The Bishop’s Basilica and the Early Christian Complex in the town are well preserved. The Complex reveals ancient cobblestone streets from 5th-6th century. The floor mosaics are exposed in the Archaeological museum of Sandanski.
The amazing sycamore tree that is about 700 years old makes a walk on the main street a real pleasure.
The swimming pool with mineral water is situated in the park and is open during the summer season.
There are many Spa hotels with swimming indoor and outdoor pools. Most of the hotels offer spa treatment procedures.
Sveti Vrach Town Park is one of the biggest parks in Bulgaria. It is located on a vast area and provides a view to Pirin Mountains. It is a favorite place for walks and rest. Sandanski is a region, highly recommended for treatment of asthma and other disorders of the respiratory system.
Velingrad - the Spa capital of the Balkans
Velingrad is a town situated at the western end of Chepelare Valley, part of the Rhodope Mountains. It is located 130 km from Sofia and 80 km from Plovdiv. It is famous for the largest karst spring in Bulgaria, called Kleptuza.
The healing waters of 80 mineral springs have different temperature that varies between 28 and 91 degrees Celsius. The healing properties of the mineral water are suitable for curing of different diseases related to musculoskeletal system, neurological disorders, hypertonia, gynecological problems, renal and urological, respiratory and stomach health problems.
Velingrad is called the Spa capital of the Balkans.
From Kamenitsa quarter can be reached the St George chapel that was built above an ancient monastery.
There are plenty of nice restaurants, hotels and guest houses. The luxury hotels in Velingrad have outdoor and indoor swimming pools and offer spa procedures.The beautiful mountains around the town, the fresh air, the parks and the greenery make it a perfect place for both winter and summer holiday.
Lepenitsa cave is situated 13 km from Velingrad.
Hisarya - with 22 hot mineral springs one of the best SPA destinations
The town of Hisarya is situated 42 km from Plovdiv.
A former ancient Thracian settlement that dates back to the 3rd century, nowadays the town of Hisarya is a famous spa destination in Bulgaria. The Roman ruins, encompassing the town are well preserved and reveal bathes, city walls, streets and an amphitheater. The fortification has 44 towers and the access to the ancient town is through four gates. In the ancient times the town was given the name Augusta during the reign of Emperor Augustus and later Diocltianopolis during the reign of Emperor Diocletion. The legend says that Diocletian came to this place in 293 A.D. to cure his diseases and to benefit from the hot mineral springs. He declared it a town and gave it the name Diocltianopolis. Each of the 22 hot mineral springs has a different temperature. The water temperature of the springs varies from 44 to 55 degrees Celsius.
The Roman city had impressive architecture – wide streets, courtyards, villas, marble baths, aquaducts, sewage system and an amphitheater.
In 17th century the Ottomans gave the town the name Hissar which in Arabic means fortress.
Momina Salza spring
The legend of the Momina Salza (Maiden’s Tear) spring says that a beautiful Bulgarian girl refused to become a concubine of a Turkish bey and the bey ordered her to serve his gests naked. The naked girl served the guests and then hit the bey with the heavy metal tray and killed him. The girl was burnt and when the flames reached her, two warm tears rolled down her face. When her tears reached the ground,they turned into a mineral spring. The mineral water of Momina Salza spring is poorly mineralized and contains different microelements – manganese, zinc, cobalt, copper and other minerals. This water is preferred by most people because of its taste.
Momina Banya spring
The water of the mineral spring Momina Banya contains more sulfur and is suitable for treatment of kidney and urologic diseases, gallbladder diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and musculoskeletal diseases. Momina Banya spring is also called “Spring of Youth”. The fresh air and the greenery of the central park in Hisarya make it a favorite place for walks and relaxation for many tourists.
The central park along the Roman walls has trees that are more than 100-year old trees and rear herbs.
There are several swimming pools with mineral water, top class hotels and restaurants and beautiful guest houses that make the town of Hisarya a preferred holiday destination.
There is a bus station and a railway station close to the town center and the taxi drivers charge you 2 leva to any destination in the town.
The village of Ognyanovo
The village of Ognyanovo is situated in the Rhodope Mountains, 200 km from Sofia. The mineral springs and the beautiful nature make it a wonderful choice for a spa holiday.
The ruins of the Roman town Nikopolis ad Nestrum date back to 4th century A.C. and are now a historical monument.
The Town Baths complex and the Ognyanovo Prophilaxis center offer spa procedures and spa treatment.
Burgas mineral baths
The mineral baths near Burgas – the complex Aqua Calidae - Thermopolis is situated 15 km from the city of Burgas.
In the ancient times it was a Thracian settlement that dates back to the 1st century. The Thracianscalled the mineral spring “The Three Nymphs” - the guardians of the mineral spring. Later in the 1st century the Thracian Sanctuary was given the name Aqua Calidae (healing water) by the Romans. In the 6th century the Emperor Justinian I built a 40 m fortress wall to protect the settlement from the Barbarians. The bath was burnt by the Latin Emperor Henry II. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman the Magnificent built a new bath on the ruins of the old one. The bath of Suleiman the Magnificent now is a museum with a glass floor over the excavations. In the archaeological complex now can be seen the medieval Christian church, the fortress walls and the Thracian tomb.
The famous healing mud in Pomorie
The town of Pomorie is situated 20 km from the city of Burgas.
The Thracian ruins found near Pomorie reveal the ancient Thracian town Anhialo. TheThracian Beehive Tomb dates back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. where pagan rituals were performed.
The ancient Thracians and Romans benefited from the healing effect of the mud from the Pomorie Lake.
The mud is rich of hydrogen sulphate, magnesium, chloride, calcium, sodium, sulphate and iron components.
The mud baths have healing properties and are suitable for treatment of the skeletal and muscular system, nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, skin diseases and metabolism disorders. The mud and lye therapy areapplied in the recreation centers and in some hotels that offer spa procedures.