Balneology, SPA and Wellness

The tradition of using the power of mineral springs dates back to ancient times. Its roots come from the age of Thracians, who were famous as excellent healers. “The Holy Springs of Thrace” became famous in the entire Roman Empire.

There are a few countries in Europe, which can be rivals to Bulgaria in the area of SPA, balneological and wellness tourism. With its abundance and diversity of thermal mineral waters and curative mud deposits, it occupies one of the first places in this type of tourism. Our country is rich in mineral waters. More than 550 deposits with 1,600 springs with total capacity of 4,900 l/sec. have been researched. Predominant are the low mineralization waters – 66.7%, mineralized mineral waters – 14.4%, and carbonated waters – 17.9%. The cool mineral springs are scattered all over the country - Narechen (Asenovgrad region), Shipkovo (Troyan region), Ovcha Kupel (Sofia), Smochan, (Lovech region), Voneshta Voda (Gabrovo region), Merichleri (Simeonovgrad region), etc. The spring with the highest temperature is the one in Sapareva Banya, and this is the only geyser fountain (103ºС) in Bulgaria and Continental Europe. The most famous thermal springs in the Balkan Mountain are in the regions of Varshets, Barziya, Lakatnik, Opletnya; in the Sofia plain – Bankya, Gorna Banya, Knyazhevo, Ovcha Kupel, Sofia, Pancharevo, etc.; in the Srednogorie - Strelcha (40°С), Hisarya (49.5°С), Banya (51.1°С), Pavel Banya (54.6°С), Starozagorski Bani (45.8°С); along the valley of Struma river – Blagoevgrad, Simitli, Sandanski, Levunovo and Marikostinovo; along the valley of Mesta river – Banya (56оС), Dobrinishte (43°С) and the village of Eleshnitsa (56°С); in the Rhodope mountain – Devin, Velingrad, Banite. In Bulgaria the widest spread are the nitrogen thermal waters – the springs around Sapareva Banua, Simitli, Narechen, Momin Prohod, etc. Carbon acid is contained in the waters of the springs near Mihalkovo, Slivenski Mineralni Bani, Stefan Karadzhovo; hydrogen sulphide is contained in the thermal waters in the Sofia lowlands. Half of the thermal waters are with increased radioactivity, surpassing 15 eman/l – the Klisura spring (200 eman/l), Strelcha spring (250 eman/l), etc. Particularly high is also the radioactivity of the springs Momina Banya (560 eman/l), one of the Narechen springs (1,300 eman/l).

In the country there are also valuable deposits of curative firth mud and curative peat. Curative mud deposits are located in the region of Shabla Tuzla, Tuzlata, Varna Lake, Pomorie, Atanasovsko Lake and Mandra Dam; and peak deposits are located near Batak Dam (Rhodope Mountain), village of Baykalsko (Konyavska Mountain), town of Straldzha (middle Tundzha river valley), Varna Lake, village of Sadovo (Gornotrakiyska Lowland). Spring deposits of curative mud are located around the village of Marikostinovo (Sandanski-Petrich valley) and the town of Banya (Karlovo valley), and there are artificial peloids around Ovcha Kupel (Sofia City), town of Velingrad, Asenovgrad, Slivenski Bani, Starozagorski Bani, Haskovski Bani, town of Sapareva Banya, town of Blagoevgrad, town of Hisarya, town of Pavel Banya, town of Pomorie, town of Primorsko, resort complex Albena, resort complex Sunny Beach, city of Burgas, etc.

The climate in the country is exceptionally favorable in comparison to those in the traditional destinations for balneology tourism in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. The number of sunny days is about 20% more than that in Northern, North-west and Central Europe. The cloudiness along the Black Sea coast is with up to 30% lower than that along the Atlantic coast or in some parts of the Mediterranean. During the spring and summer months, rainfalls are lower.

Part of the mineral springs in the country are located in its southern part, where influence is felt by the Mediterranean climate; others are found in mountain regions with coniferous vegetation and crystal springs; and third – along the Black Sea coast. This, together with the presence of great diversity of herbs and plants for the needs of aroma- and phytotherapy provides opportunities for all-year-long visiting the country, effective treatment and prophylaxis of multiple diseases or simply creates excellent conditions for relaxation.

Republic of Bulgaria has 48 climatic mountain resorts, 15 climatic marine resorts, 38 balneological resorts. The most famous balneological, climatic and mud curative Black Sea resorts are the resort complexes Albena, Golden Sands, St. Konstantin and Helena, Sunny Day, Sunny Beach, Riviera, Balchik, Tuzlata, Varna Mud Curative Baths (Varnenski Kalolechebni Bani), Pomorie, Primorsko, Kiten, Sozopol, Ahtopol, etc. The most famous ones in the semi-mountain and mountain parts of the country are: Hisar, Velingrad (the spa capital of the Balkan Peninsula), Sandanski, Bankya, Kyustendil, Narechen, Pavel Banya, Kostenets, Varshets, Burgaski Mineralni Bani, Momin Prohod, Slivenski Mineralni Bani, Slivenski Mineralni Bani, Starozagorski Mineralni Bani, Haskovski Mineralni Bani, Sapareva Banya, Banya, Pamporovo, Borovets, Teteven, Tryavna, Apriltsi, Kotel, Elena, Govedartsi, Dryanovo, etc.

The country is famous for its high qualified personnel, the excellent accommodation options and the diverse programs and services, including: massages, baths with mineral water, pearl baths, reflex therapy, traditional needle therapy, medicinal exercises, acupuncture, laser therapy, acupressure, paraffin treatment, apitherapy, phytotherapy, mud treatment, aroma therapy, antistress programs, dieting programs and programs for losing weight, balneo-cosmetics, sauna, solarium, fitness, medical cosmetics, etc. All of this can be combined with various tourism programs, representing the cultural heritage, traditional cuisine or folklore and traditions of Bulgaria.