Bansko Банско
View of central Bansko
Coat of arms
Bansko Location of Bansko
Coordinates: 41°50′N 23°30′E / 41.833°N 23.5°E / 41.833; 23.5Coordinates: 41°50′N 23°30′E / 41.833°N 23.5°E / 41.833; 23.5
Country	Bulgaria
Province (Oblast)	Blagoevgrad
Government
• Mayor	Georgi Ikonomov (GERB)
Elevation	925 m (3,035 ft)
Population (01.02.2011)
• Total	13,088
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	2770
Area code(s)	0749
Website	www.bansko.bg (Bulgarian)

Bansko (Bulgarian: Банско) is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains at an elevation of 925 m above sea level. It is a popular ski resort for both European and Bulgarian tourists.

Legends[link]

There are several legends about who founded Bansko. According to one of them, Bansko was founded by people who lived in Dobarsko, a village in Rila, itself according to a legend founded by the blinded army of Tsar Samuil. Another legend claims that Bansko was founded by an Italian painter by the name of Ciociolino, hence the existence of the name Chucholin in Bansko.

Still according to another version it was a Slavic tribe called the Peruns, who lived in Pirin and worshiped Perun, that founded the village later to become a town. There are a number of ethnographic texts, legends, prayers and oratories, which lend credence to this legend.^{[citation needed][specify]}

History[link]

The archeological traces of the inhabitants of Bansko and the Razlog Valley in general date to the early periods of the Roman Empire. There are several housing structures at the outskirts of the town, which date to 100 BC. However, there is no consensus nor credible theory on who these people were.

Bansko became part of Bulgaria, during the reign of Khan Krum, most probably around 811 AD and has been part of Bulgaria, ever since.

The Bulgarian Evangelical Church Community, the first Protestant church in Bulgaria, was founded in Bansko on 6 August 1868.^[1]

Economy[link]

Skiers near Bansko

Bansko, once mainly a stockbreeding and travelling merchant community, has become an international centre for winter and summer tourism. The mountain peaks near the town, the numerous lakes and the old pine woods make it a popular site for recreation. Bulgaria's share in European winter tourism is steadily rising, and Bansko increasingly competes with resorts in France and Switzerland due to the comparative lower costs but not in quality.^[2]

Improvements to the infrastructure and organisation of the ski area on Todorka have been made annually to accommodate the rising number of tourists. A gondola lift was built from town in 2003, replacing the minibus ride to the primary base area of Banderishka Poliana. As of 2010^[update], the ski area has 75 km (47 mi) of ski runs, 27 lifts and drags, serving up to 24,500 persons per hour.^[3] The lift-served summit rises to an elevation of 2,600 m (8,500 ft) above sea level. The vertical drop is nearly 1,000 m (3,300 ft) to the base area at Banderishka Poliana, and over 1,600 m (5,200 ft) with the ski runs to town^[4]

The nearby village of Banya, located only 5 km (3 mi) from the town, is known for its 27 thermal mineral springs.

The town is served by the scenic narrow gauge line from Septemvri to Dobrinishte. Regular bus connections are available to Sofia, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev, Razlog, among others.

Many of the infrastructure problems have been given attention to since 2009. The small portion of unfinished apartments are now being given attention as well. Due to the global recovery from the financial crisis and the more realistic pricing, apartments are attracting more buyers from across Europe.^[5] In 2010 the resort recovered from the crisis and has seen record profits.

The ski area is very tightly controlled by some of the most restrictive development laws in Europe. As a norm 12/5% of European national parks can be set aside for tourist services whilst in Bansko only 3.3% is set aside. With new development of lifts and pistes the town bed capacity will balance out.

Climate[link]

Sport[link]

Bansko has recently hosted FIS World Cup alpine ski races: the women raced in 2009 in two downhills and a super G.^[6] The men's circuit made its first stop at Bansko in 2011 with a super combined and a slalom.^[7][8] It hosted the mens giant slalom in February 2012 and the FIS World Cup ladies' downhill and super G^[9], and men's giant slalom and slalom^[10].

Alpine and biathlon competitions take place regularly. It is expected that the summer biathlon world cup will also take place in the resort of Bansko.

Events[link]

In recent years, the town has gained international popularity as a pop and jazz scene after the start of the annual Bansko Jazz Festival and consequently the annual Bansko pop-star concert featuring top pop stars.

Honour[link]

Bansko Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the town of Bansko.

See also[link]

• List of cities and towns in Bulgaria

References[link]

1. ^ www.protestantstvo.com/show.php?id=35
2. ^ Bulgaria's share of the skiing market is rising, The Sofia Echo, 2 December 2011
3. ^ banskoski.com
4. ^ banskoski.com - ski map - accessed 2011-02-26
5. ^ Irish Times.com - 2200 Irish own an apartment in Bansko - 2009-05-21
6. ^ FIS-ski.com - Bansko - World Cup events - 2009 - women
7. ^ FIS-ski.com - Bansko - World Cup events - 2011 - men
8. ^ Bansko World Cup.com - accessed 2010-02-26
9. ^ [1] - FIS Ski World Cup Calendar 2012 - ladies
10. ^ [2] - FIS Ski World Cup Calendar 2012 - men

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011)

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bansko

• Bansko blog
• Information about Bansko, pistes, lift passes, webcams
• Tourist information
• Ski world cup Bansko 2012
• Culinary tourism in Bansko-Razlog area
• International jazz festival
• Tourist information
• Mountaineer film festival

v t e Municipality of Bansko Capital: Bansko Towns/Villages Dobrinishte Filipovo Gostun Kremen Mesta Obidim Osenovo Landmarks Culture Bansko Jazz Festival Notable people Nikola Vaptsarov Paisiy Hilendarski Neofit Rilski

v t e Cities and towns of Bulgaria 1,000,000+ Sofia (capital) 300,000+ Plovdiv Varna 100,000+ Burgas Pleven Ruse Stara Zagora 50,000+ Asenovgrad Blagoevgrad Dobrich Gabrovo Haskovo Pazardzhik Pernik Sliven Shumen Veliko Tarnovo Vratsa Yambol 20,000+ Aytos Botevgrad Dimitrovgrad Dupnitsa Gorna Oryahovitsa Karlovo Kardzhali Kazanlak Kyustendil Lom Lovech Montana Nova Zagora Petrich Razgrad Samokov Sandanski Sevlievo Silistra Smolyan Svishtov Targovishte Troyan Velingrad Vidin 10,000+ Balchik Bankya Bansko Berkovitsa Byala, Rousse Province Byala Slatina Cherven Bryag Chirpan Elhovo Etropole Gotse Delchev Harmanli Ihtiman Isperih Karnobat Kavarna Knezha Kostinbrod Kozloduy Kubrat Levski Mezdra Momchilgrad Nesebar Novi Iskar Novi Pazar Panagyurishte Parvomay Pavlikeni Peshtera Pomorie Popovo Provadiya Radnevo Radomir Rakovski Razlog Stamboliyski Svilengrad Teteven 5,000+ Aksakovo Ardino Belene Belogradchik Beloslav Bobov Dol Chepelare Dalgopol Devin Devnya Dolni Chiflik Dragoman Dryanovo Dulovo Dzhebel Elena Elin Pelin Galabovo General Toshevo Hisarya Kameno Koynare Kostenets Kotel Krichim Krumovgrad Kuklen Lukovit Lyubimets Lyaskovets Madan Nedelino Omurtag Oryahovo Perushtitsa Pirdop Polski Trumbesh Rakitovo Saedinenie Septemvri Simeonovgrad Simitli Slivnitsa Sopot Sredets Straldzha Strazhitsa Suvorovo Svoge Tervel Topolovgrad Tryavna Tsarevo Tutrakan Tvarditsa Varshets Vetovo Veliki Preslav Yakoruda Zlatitsa Zlatograd Under 5,000 Ahtopol Alfatar Antonovo Apriltsi Balgarovo Batak Batanovtsi Belitsa Belovo Boboshevo Bolyarovo Borovo Boychinovtsi Bozhurishte Bratsigovo Bregovo Breznik Brusartsi Byala, Varna Province Byala Cherkva Chiprovtsi Debelets Dimovo Dobrinishte Dolna Banya Dolna Mitropoliya Dolna Oryahovitsa Dolni Dubnik Dospat Dunavtsi Dve Mogili Glavinitsa Glodzhevo Godech Gramada Gulyantsi Gurkovo Hadzhidimovo Iskar Ivaylovgrad Kableshkovo Kalofer Kaolinovo Kaspichan Kermen Kilifarevo Kiten Klisura Kocherinovo Koprivshtitsa Kostandovo Kresna Krivodol Kula Laki Letnitsa Loznitsa Madzharovo Maglizh Malko Turnovo Marten Melnik Merichleri Miziya Momin Prohod Nikolaevo Nikopol Obzor Opaka Pavel Banya Plachkovtsi Pliska Pordim Pravets Primorsko Rila Roman Rudozem Sadovo Sapareva Banya Sarnitsa Senovo Shabla Shipka Shivachevo Slavyanovo Slivo Pole Smyadovo Sozopol Strelcha Suhindol Sungurlare Sveti Vlas Tran Trastenik Tsar Kaloyan Ugarchin Vetren Valchedram Valchi Dol Varbitsa Yablanitsa Zavet Zemen Zlataritsa