Bansko
The town of Bansko is situated in South-western Bulgaria (Blagoevgrad province), at the foothills of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains - Pirin, which is a national preserve, included in the
World Natural Heritage list.
Surrounded by the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope mountains, Bansko is a climatic mountain resort with a short hot summer and long mild winter.
Average January temperatures on the high mountain peaks reach down to -20°C and around -5°C in the town. Summer temperatures range between 20°C to 35°C with around 250 sunny days a year.
Snow falls are abundant on the slopes, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2m thick. The skiing season along the Pirin slopes starts in the middle of December and ends in mid-April.
The district is famous for its excellent cuisine, the variety of
colourful taverns or mehanas (over 200 in the
town) and the authentic folklore.
External
Link to Mehanas of Bansko
Bansko is an ancient town famous for its cobbled streets, fortified timber framed houses, museums and the School of Icon Painting. Its 120 cultural monuments include The Sveta Troitsa
(Holy Trinity) Church and incorporates some fine examples of richly decorated murals.
The town also has its own School of Art, theatre house, public library, and several art galleries. Other areas of interest include
'Bishine Tavern' the oldest tavern which was first opened in 1818, and nearby Rila
Monastery, founded in the 10th Century and regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important architectural monuments.
The newly built Mall Bansko is
now open with shops on four of the floors and a bar. Elsewhere in the town, you can find a wide range of ski & snowboard equipment shops, as well as shops selling souvenirs, arts & crafts. There are plenty of street cafes serving coffees & traditional pastries to keep you going and and for everyday necessities, you are never far from a supermarket. On Sunday there is the traditional market where you will find a variety of goods and local crafts. Behind the square is the fruit &
veg. market, where you can buy local organic produce.
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