'Village under the name of Bansko was formed centuries ago. The newcomers settled down in an amazing place, at the Glazne river, under the roof of Pirin Mountain itself!'
The newest Bulgarian winter resort, Bansko provides an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient Bulgarian town. Over the last four years, a multi-million pound investment has created 75km of pistes spread between 1000 and 2600m. Bulgaria received the privilege to host a round of the FIS World Cup Downhill race for women for this racing season 2008/2009. Bansko will welcome the best downhill racers on 28th February (downhill) and 1st March 2009.
Bansko received an excellent assessment for the rounds of the European Cup, which were held in the resort last season.
Today, Bansko is Bulgaria's largest and most prestigious ski resort, reflected in its bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. With its ski facilities and hotels offering accommodation at average to high prices the place is particularly popular among foreign tourists, drawn by the blend of architecture and up-to-date amenities.
Bansko has the best snow record in Bulgaria, becoming famous for sunny skiing and superb off-piste powder. The season runs from mid December to late April, with 70 new snow cannons (covering 80% of the pistes) enhancing piste conditions. The ski area runs alongside the Pirin National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and fantastic views can be enjoyed across to Greece to the South and the Rila and Rhodopi mountain ranges to the North. Bansko is certainly one of the jewels in Bulgaria's tourism crown.
The town of Bansko is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria (Blagoevgrad province), at the foothills of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountain -Pirin. Ski-resort of national significance, much visited also in the summer as a starting point for excursions in the mountain.
Surrounded by thePirin, Rila andRhodopi mountains, Bansko is a climatic mountain resort with a short hot summer and long mild winter. The average temperature during January, the coldest month, is - 1.9АC. Snow falls are abundant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 m thick.
Bansko is very close to another resorts which are located inBanya, Razlog andDobrinishte.
For the non-skiers there are a range of activities in the town including an ice ring, ten pin bowling, many top class elegant spas, skidooing, paragliding, horse riding, ice fishing and clothes/souvenir shopping.
Summer
Summer in Bansko is a perfect holiday getaway. During the summer there is much more to do in Bansko than one expects. You can enjoy many activities within the resort and the surrounding mountains.
These include: golf, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, horse riding in the forest, white water rafting, quad biking up the pistes, outdoor mineral water swimming pools and paragliding all in glorious sunshine.
To experience walking up and down pistes that you have skied during the winter is an incredible experience, seeing the wild flowers, hearing the sound of mountain streams and waterfalls working their way through the scented pine forest.
