|
|
|
Velingrad
VELINGRAD
THE SPA CENTER OF THE BALKANS
Velingrad is located in the western part of Chepino Valley which connects the Rila and Rhodope Mountains at an altitude of 740 m, 130 km from Sofia, an hour and a half from the Sofia Airport and in 80 km from Plovdiv. According to the legend, the present-day bed of the Chepinska river was once occupied by a large lake on the bank of which Orpheus was born and spent his life. Another legendary belief is that this is the place where the great story of Spartacus began.
Beautiful scenery, mild climate, the presence of more than 80 mineral springs, 46 spa hoteland sanatoriums are what makes Velingrad the largest spa resort not only in Bulgaria but on the Balkan Peninsula. Due to all these factors Velingrad was named SPA center of the Balkans in 2009.
MINERAL WATERS
Velingrad has the largest resource of mineral water in Bulgaria and the Balkans, with a total capacity of 143 l / sec. There are more than 80 springs in the town and surrounding area as well as 3 deposits of mineral waters with different physicochemical characteristics, each named after the region where they are located.
The mineral water from the Chepino spring /the biggest mineral spring in the town/, from where the balneocomplexes Saint Spas and SPA Club Bor are supplied through with their own water-main, is hypothermal with temperature 48оС and general mineralization 187 g/l. It has the following characteristics: hydro carbonate, sodium, fluoric, silicon, radon, with hydrosulfide. The capacity of the spring is 70 l/sec. The water is appropriate for drinking, inhalation and bathing, and the indications for prophylaxis, healing and recreation are for the following diseases: musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, respiratory system, metabolism, gastrointestinal tract, nephritis and urological diseases, gynecological diseases, skin diseases, functional disorders of the nervous system.
The main water resources in the region are rivers, dam lakes, karst and mineral springs. The numerous mountain springs and rivers - Lepenitza, Lukovitza, Elenka and Vlasa, come together in the Chepinska river, which goes about 90 km to flows into the Maritza river. The last 50 years saw the huge construction of hydro-technical facilities in the region such as the dam lakes “Belmeken”, “Dospat”, “Shiroka polyana”, “Batak”, and “Beglika”. All of them are located in not more than 40 km away from Velingrad and offer an opportunity to practice various water sports and fishing.
CLIMATE
The Chepino Valley where Velingrad is located is known for being the place in Bulgaria with the most sunny days - 215. The solar radiation here is increased which is good for the ionization of the air. The climate in the valley is continental with Mediterranean influences. Summers here are cool and the winters - soft.
Fogs are not common here as there usually are not more than 15 foggy days per year. Snow also does not last long and melts due to the warm foehn wind, called by locals Belan. The most typical for the microclimate of the resort is the wind Vechernik (evening wind) which in the summer brings coolness from the rivers and pine forests. The average annual temperature in Velingrad is 9°C compared to the 10,5°C in the country. The absolute humidity of the air is 6.8 mm, the relative - 75%, and atmospheric pressure is low.
The area surrounding Velingrad offers the so called "health routes". These are attractive tourist trails starting from the town and leading to the mountain huts and natural objects and can be used year-round.
HISTORY
The oldest evidence of the use of mineral water in the region of Velingrad dates back to the Thracians and Roman times. Here the Roman road Nikopolis ad Nestrum - Besapara (the capital of the Bessi) passed, traces of which still exist Karkoria Hill near the village of Dorkovo. Bessi were known as one of the most persistent Thracian tribes, strong in spirit and affection for their homeland, resolutely defending their freedom and independence. It is no coincidence they were the last to fall under the Roman rule during the reign of Emperor Claudius in the 1st century AD.
For 46 years ancient Thrace attracted visitors with its fertile planes, mountains, and priceless mineral springs. Emperors and rulers honored these healing places and showed their gratitude to the generous nature by building lavish baths, remains of which were found during the reconstruction of baths in Chepino Region. Locals would use these health related sites to build shrines to their gods such as the sanctuary of Asclepius in the village of Batkun.
During the reign of Khan Presiyan (836 - 852 AD) this area was annexed by First Bulgarian State. In the notable work of St. Zahariev "Description of the Tatarpazardzhishka Kaaza - 1870” we read about a document found by him in the ruins of the St. Spas monastery which was located near the village of Belovo. This document was a worn out sheet from a handwritten skin book "without beginning and end”, according to which the Bulgarian kings would come to the monastery to worship the miraculous icons of the saints Archdeacon Stefan and Ivan Bogoslov, and then went to bathe in the „Tsepinski Baths”.
The tradition of using mineral waters continued in the Middle Ages as well. In the middle of the 17th century, Ban Velyo, the governor of the surrounding villages, as a sign of gratitude for his healing, built a bath, summoned the abbot from St. George monastery on the Ostrets peak to sanctify it and donated it to his fellow villagers. Subjected to repeated repairs, the bathroom survives to this day and is for four centuries now it still bears his name.
After the Liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878, there was a sharp increase in the number of tourists from all parts of Bulgaria. In 1932 in the village of Chepino, near the lake "Kleptuza" - the largest and most famous karst spring in Bulgaria, the eponymous park was build, and is now regarded as a symbol of the resort. In a tourist guide from 1933 we read: "Nature was never so generous anywhere as it was in the resort of Ladzhene." From this guide we also learn that the village had about 10 hotels with a capacity of about 500 seats and restaurants. In addition, a state vacation complex for teachers consisting of 140 rooms and about 300 beds was built at the cost of 25 000 000 leva - a huge building for its time.
In the early spring of 1937, the local branch of a popular bank offered to credit to the village governing body with the condition that the money be used either for paving the main street with cobblestones, or for the construction of a public beach. A dispute arised between the councilors and the mayor Joseph Shniter as to how the amount would be better used. One of their meetings was accidentally attended by an ordinary peasant who asked whether it was the cobblestones that would bring the beach or the beach that would bring the cobblestones. And so the decision was made to build a public beach. For this purpose, the technical manager of the project went to Sofia to get better acquainted with the newly built beach Dianabad. The construction of the local beach was completed in just a few months and the result was impressive. 
On August 22, 1937 the largest in the country and the second largest in Europe public mineral beach was officially opened and it had two hot mineral pools, five trampolines, individual cane changing rooms, sea sand specially brought from Varna, and lighting for the pools so they could be used in night. The planned capacity of the beach was for 1000 adults and children, and 1,000 wooden grills were installed. The first beauty contest "Queen of the Beach" was organised. A great advertising campaign in the Sofia press led to incredible interest in the site and only a few days later the Ladzhene village with population of three thousand was flocked by more than 10,000 tourists.
In 1948 three villages - Kamenica, Ladzhene and Chepino were joined and formed the town of Velingrad. In 1968 the opening of the Zdravets Hotel as part of the Balkanturist system marked the beginning of construction of luxury hotels in the town. The luxurious restaurant "Bor" was opened in order to meet the needs of the many visitors.
TOURISM
The most remarkable and attractive place in Velingrad is Kleptuza. It is the biggest karst spring in the Balkans - a wonder of nature, whose name is connected with many legends.There are 570 l of water with constant temperature flowing out of it each second forming two beautiful lakes and then flowing into the Chepino River. South of the karst spring lie the evergreen pine forests of the Kleptuza park.
There is a 1525 meters long cave called Lepenitsa located in 18 km from Velingrad, consisting of two floors with an underground river and lakes. Again, 18 km east of Velingrad in the village of Dorkovo is the old Bulgarian fortress Tsepina which served as temporary headquarters of the Bulgarian ruler despot Slav.
16 km away westwards from Velingrad at the border between the Rhodope Mountains and the Rila Mountain is situated the Yundola mountain resort. There is a ski track, where in 1981 the world ski run championship was held. 47 km from the town the Belmeken high-mountain region is located (at an altitude of 2000 m). There you can take advantage of the indoor sports hall – 53 m. х 25 m., which is suitable for basketball, volleyball, handball, track-and-field athletics and football. There are also equipped halls for wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, outdoor track-and-field athletics path with red covering, asphalt-paved path for summer and winter biathlon and ski orientation.
40 km away from Velingrad in the Rila Mountain is situated the Kurtovo place (1800 m above the sea level), where is the only place in Bulgaria for mountain climate healing. 12 km away from Velingrad is situated the town of Rakitovo – a famous resort and historical place. 28 km away from Velingrad is situated the town of Batak, known by its historical landmarks, where the one of the oldest churches in Bulgaria is situated. 15 km away from Velingrad is situated the Syutka place (2186 m above the sea level). It is determined that at this place in Bulgaria, the snow during the year stays the longest and it is suitable for ski sports. Here a big ski centre will be constructed.
_____________
Source:
About Velingrad, Velingrad Park House
 |
