Starozagorski bani

Updated on Dec 30, 2024

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Country Bulgaria Time zone EET (UTC+2) Area 80 ha Area code 04111 Municipality Stara Zagora		Elevation 370 m (1,210 ft) Postal Code 6062 Local time Sunday 1:35 PM Province Stara Zagora Province

Weather 14°C, Wind N at 3 km/h, 58% Humidity

Starozagorski bani (Bulgarian: Старозагорски бани, literally translated as Stara Zagora Baths, sometimes referred to as Stara Zagora Spa) is a village and a mineral spring spa resort in central Bulgaria. It is located 15 km (9 mi) north-west of Stara Zagora, in the Sredna Gora mountain.

Map of 6062 Starozagorski bani, Bulgaria

History and geography

The village is situated in the valley of river Sazliyka, at 370 m (1,210 ft) above sea level. The surrounding mountain peaks rise up to 800 m (2,620 ft).

The mild climate and the hot mineral springs of the valley have attracted settlers since prehistory. A neolithic settlement has been discovered around the mineral springs, close to today's main Thermal bath building. It existed in the place from around 6000 BC until the late chalcolithic age, around 4000 BC. Many of the findings from the site's archeological excavations, mainly pottery, tools made of stone, horn, bone and copper, and other pieces of prehistoric art, are now displayed in the Neolithic Dwellings Museum in Stara Zagora.

An impressive 2500 m² (26,900 sq ft) Roman thermae has also been discovered in the village in 1965. It was built around the 2nd century AD and has been used at least until the 12th century AD by the population of the Bulgarian village founded south of the thermae.

In 1967 the village gained the status national balneotherapy resort. This led to big investments in developing tourism in the area.

Tourism

The economy of Starozagorski bani is dominated by tourism. There are many hotels and pensions offering mineral water spa services, restaurants, parks and sport facilities offering different outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking trails lead into the surrounding mountains.

Mineral water

There are many mineral water springs on the territory of the village. The water springs with a 12-liter per second capacity, from a depth of around 1600 m (5250 ft), and with a temperature of around 40°C (105°F). It is lightly mineralized, containing hydro-carbonates, sulfates, calcium, magnesium, silica and fluorine. It is used for treating respiratory, kidney and stomach problems.

The biggest springs are developed into the resort's main Thermal bath building, with a couple of mineral water fountains outside. Other springs are used for providing spa and balneotherapy services by hotels and medical centers.

Virgin Mary's Footprint

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Starozagorski bani is the site Virgin Mary's Footprint, situated north of the village. It is called like this because of a rock formation that looks like a giant human footprint inside a rock. According to the legend, this is a footprint of Virgin Mary, which is filled with water which never drains.

It is believed that Virgin Mary's footprint is a sacred natural site for Christians, so a small chapel is built in the place called Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.