Bulgaria,Sofia
"Ever Growing, Never Ageing" This motto is written on Sofia's coat of arms.
Sofia is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. For over 7,000 years Sofia has been a meeting place of the four directions
of the world. Tribes and peoples came and went, civilisations flourished and declined but the city has stayed forever.
Today Sofia is a modern and busy capital and a centre of Bulgaria's political, economic and cultural life. The harmony between
the past and the present day lends the city its unique charm. Sofia has the tumult of a capital city and the convenience of
a compact centre, where all the main sights can be visited on foot.
Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia district
- Bansko
- BLAGOEVGRAD
- Borovets
- Koprivshtitsa
- Kovachevitsa
- KYUSTENDIL
- Leshten
- Melnik
- PERNIK
- Sandanski
- Sapareva Banya
:: Sights and Activities
Rila National Park is the largest national park in Bulgaria. It is located about 100 km. south of Sofia, in the central and highest regions of the Rila Mountains. The name Rila is derived from the Thracian word “roula”, meaning ‘lots of water.’ The Park was established on February 24, 1992 to conserve the natural heritage of the Rila Mountains as well as the local traditions, culture, and livelihoods linked with the area. The Park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historic sites of global cultural and scientific significance. Some of the largest rivers in the Balkan Peninsula originate here. The National Park Directorate, a regional body reporting to the Ministry of Environment and Waters, manages Rila National Park.
:: Spa Resorts
The curative properties of the Bulgarian mineral waters were known and used from antiquity. Ancient mineral complexes were
built near the mineral springs: Hisaria- ancient Augusta; Kyustendil – ancient Pautalia, Bourgas mineral baths – Aque
Kalite, later Thermopiles; Sapareva Banya – Germaneia; The Sliven Baths – Tanzos and Sofia – Ulpia Serdika.
The Bulgarian spa resorts have the advantage of being located in vary favourable climatic regions, affording the exceptional possibility of combining balneotherapy with climatic treatment. The water has different chemical composition, degree of mineralisation, types of soluble salts, medical gases, biologically active microcomponents, temperature and healing properties.
Therapeutic mud is an extremely valuable resource - it is a complex, biologically active admixture of organic and inorganic substances, exerting a mechanical, chemical and thermal effect on the body, stimulating blood circulation, breathing and body metabolism.
The Bulgarian mineral waters are average and strongly mineralized. They are applied for internal (drinking) spa treatment
of diseases of the kidneys and the urinary system, of the gastro-intestinal tract – the liver and the gall bladder, of the
internal secretion glands and chronic intoxications. When used in sufficient quantity, macroingredient waters may have a
pharmadynamic effect similar to that of medicines.
Ferrous sulphate mineral waters have good curative effect in cases of anaemia. Salty mineral waters are best for external spa treatment of rheumatic, degenerative diseases and inflammatory processes as well as of traumatic, orthopaedic, neurological and gynaecological diseases. Gas waters containing hydrogen sulphide and radon waters have curative effect as biostimulators.
Comfortable accommodation and servicing, medical treatment and
prophylaxis complying with the modern requirements in the
branch are offered at: “Dobroudja” hotel in Albena, “Ambassador” and “Imperial” hotels in the Riviera Holiday Club, “Palace”
and “Marina” hotels in Sunny Day, “Grand Hotel Varna” in Saint Elias Resort, “Globus” hotel in Sunny Beach, “Pomorie
Interhotel” in Pomorie, “Sandanski” and “Sveti Vrach” hotels in Sandanski, “Augusta” hotel in Hisaria, “Velina” and “Kamena”
hotels in Velingrad, “Velbazhd” hotel in Kyustendil, etc.