The once famous and beloved royal resort of Varshets

In Bulgaria there are many thermal springs, and near everyone else in antiquity there was a settlement, which eventually grew into a city. In these cities at the beginning of the last century there were beautiful mineral baths and not only Bulgarians, but also the European nobility had a rest. Today, all this is neglected and looks very sad, however, thermal water has not disappeared and people still use it, that is, the resorts operate despite their terrible appearance and disorder. For example, the balneoclimatic resort of Bankya near Sofia.

One of such famous and once successful balneological resorts is Varshets, which is located in the so-called depressed region of Bulgaria - in the north-west, in the region of Montana.

Varshets is not a big city - just over 7,000 people live here. People have been living here since ancient times. The oldest name of the city is Medeka, then, under the Turks, the city was called Virisniche. No matter how the name changes, the meaning of these words is the same - warm water.

Because there are thermal mineral springs in Varshets - because of which people settled here and also mineral baths were built.

Modern mineral baths in Varshets were built in 1910 and 1930 on the site of the ancient Roman.

And this resort became famous thanks to the fact that the first casino in Bulgaria was built here and was named royal because it was loved by the brother of Tsar Boris III - Kiril Preslavsky.

Far casino building

Casino inside

New Mineral Bath

In 1950, Varshets was given the status of a national resort, but it became a city only 14 years later.

Mineral water in Varshets has healing properties for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, central and peripheral nervous system, endocrine and gastrointestinal tract. Thermal water has an average temperature of 37 ° C and is considered to be slightly mineralized. You can drink it. It tastes good in the sense that it has no extraneous odors and tastes.

There are not many spa hotels in the city, however, it is full of private hotels with a bed from 6 leva per day (3 euros).

A new mineral bath - the one that was built in 1930 and later restored, is still operating at very affordable prices. A visit to the mineral pool here costs 3.5 BGN, cheaper for pensioners and children.

The city of Varshets is 85 km from Sofia. You can get there by two roads - one is good, the other is not very.

Despite the fact that Varshets is located in the mountains - at the foot of the Todorini Puppet Peak, it is located below Sofia, if we talk about sea level - only 395 m. This is probably why it is much cooler and more humid. I think that in the summer Bulgarian heat here is incredibly good.

Plane tree alley

Varshets is famous for its huge forest park with waterfalls and gazebos, which in size is second only to the Sofia Borisov hail. In summer it is much more comfortable here.

All these autumn photos were taken by me personally.

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With love from Bulgaria @varya-davydova