Bansko - The Town Today

Surrounded by the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopa mountains, Bansko is growing mountain resort with a current populations of around 10,000 permanent residents. The skiing season starts in mid December and lasts through until mid April when the town changes over to a summer resort offering hunting, walking, fishing and sightseeing.

The town is currently undergoing a huge construction programme creating dozens of new 4 and 5 star hotels to complement the existing 40 traditional family run hotels. Hundreds of new holiday apartments are also being built to satisfy the increasing demand for accomodation as the town turns into a major world ski destination. Within the last 10 years the town has began turning from a peaceful mountain village into the fastest growing ski destination in Europe.

Millions of euros have been spent creating over 65 kilometers of ski runs and a lift network covering 26 kilometers. As the ski facilities are being improved so to is the infrastructure of the town and the local council have a vision of creating an all seasons resort.

Along with new hotels and apartments a number of shops, restaurants, taverns and cafes are also being introduced. The shops are starting to sell ski wear from all of the top suppliers and the cafes and restaurants offer both traditional and high quality modern facilities.

Places to go - There are over 120 cultural and historic monuments in and around Bansko including the world famous Rila monastery. Built in its present form between 1816 and 1846 the monastery was first created inthe 10th century as a refuge for hermits.

Bansko also boasts one of the best museaum complexes in eastern Europe including Neophit Rilsky Museum (a former cell school), Hilendarsky/Rilsky Convent (Bansko School of icon-painting) and The House of Arts and Poetry.

Other Attractions - Extending over an area of 27,400ha and lying at an altitude of 1,008 - 2,914m in the Pirin mountains, the Pirin National Park has a limestone Balkan landscape, with lakes, waterfalls, caves and pine forests. The rugged mountains, with some 70 glacial lakes scattered throughout them, are home to hundreds of endemic and rare species, many of which are representative of the Balkan Pleistocene flora. The mountains also have diverse and unique landscapes of great aesthetic value.

The Pirin National park is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.