DOLNA BANYA

DOLNA BANYA

Dolna Banya is 70 km away from Sofia and 17 km away from the popular ski resort- Borovets. It is situated on the North - East mountainside of Rila Mountain. The climate is mild continental , typical for the sub mountain layer. The surrounding forest reduces the rapid temperature fluctuations. During the winter the temperatures are higher than those in the open fields and valleys while during the summer the temperatures are lower. The flora is characterized by broad leaves and coniferous forests, meadows, rich habitats of herbs and mushrooms. The relief is semi-mountainous with an altitude of 650 meters. The town has crystal clear air, with high negative ionization and has no sharp temperature fluctuations. The Dolna Banya  spas, abundance of mineral water and stunning scenery. There are geothermal mineral springs with water to the source of 67.8 C°. The water is using for curing several numbers of diseases, for outer use. The recreation campus is 5 km to the south, with many recreation facilities and children camps. There is a tourist challet, called Gerginitsa (80 beds). Marked hiking tracks start from the recreation campus across Eastern Rila. There are beautiful rivers (namely Maritsa and Ibar) plus countless making a popular destination for fishers.
Ever since Bronze age, Thracian and through until Roman times, this whole region has been populated and visited by famous kings, royalty, soldiers and many others wishing to experience the healing properties of the spa it offers. The waters here have proven curative properties, particularly for skin and joint complaints. They come direct from hyperthermal sources in the Dolna Banya underground, with Pchelinski Bani having the hottest. Many tribes and peoples have left a trace here - Romans and Byzantines, Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs. In the past Dolna Banya was a crossroads of the old Bosnian Plovdiv-Samokov-Nis and with its inns was an important stopover for spending the night along the Arnaout route.

 The plans for the development of Dolna Banya municipality as a resort are connected with the development of the resort complex "Super Borovets", which officially started on October 8th 2007. Essentially, the existing resort of Borovets will become just a small part of what is planned to be built. New lifts and runs stretching down to Samokov town and Beli Iskar will be built along with new apartments and hotel zones. Through this year began the building of a golf course with around 10 000m length and 18 holes on the land of Dolna Banya . Next to it functions an airport for small private jets where are organized courses for pilots training. On the road to Borovets in the land of Raduil village (7 km away from Dolna Banya) is planned the building of a big horse base with 700 000 m2 area.

Golf club Ibar
The project which is being built at the moment includes construction of an 18-hole golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, 400 detached villas, club building and a hotel. The investment is to the value of 10 million. Euro.

Dolna Banya is a town predominantly making ecologically pure products. The town has a modern motel and hotels as well as good sporting facilities - a stadium and swimming pools. The favorable climate in the region, the proximity of mountain resort villages provide good conditions for aviation tourism.

5 km away from Dolna Banya is situated the small spa resort of Momin Prohod which has been re known for its spas that have been used since Roman times. The main remedial factors there are the natural hyperthermal mineral waters, the mud, and the thermal procedures.

Another spa centre in the area is Kostenets,  situated in the Kostenets – Dolna Banya Valley along either banks of Maritsa River. It is located 65 km away from Sofia, about 80 km away from Plovdiv. The town is only 30 km away from the world famous Borovets ski resort. The area of Kostenets  have  been an established spa and mountain resort centre. Only 2 km from Kostenets, in the northern foothills of Eastern Rila Mountains the nice balneological resort of Kostenets is located. The mineral water is with a temperature, varying from 46 to 73 degrees Celsius. The mineral springs are 3 and have a total outflow of 300 liters per minute. There is a nice spa centre with outdoor mineral water swimming pool, an artificial lake, tennis court, holiday houses and villas nearby.

Pchelinski Bani is situated 8 km from Kostenets and is also a balneological resort of national importance. The mineral water has a temperature of 73 degrees Celsius and is suitable for the treatment of many disorders.