Bansko (Bulgarian: Банско [ˈbansko]) is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, located in Blagoevgrad Oblast near the city of Razlog. Once mainly a stockbreeding and travelling merchant community, the town is now an international centre for winter and summer tourism. More recently Bansko has become a known hotspot for digital nomads driven in part by the relative affordability of the location combined with its natural scenery.
Bansko
Банско (Bulgarian) | |
|---|---|
.jpg)    .jpg)   Bansko | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Bansko Location of Bansko | |
| Coordinates: 41°50′N 23°30′E / 41.833°N 23.500°E | |
| Country |  Bulgaria |
| Province (Oblast) | Blagoevgrad |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Stoycho Banenski (Independent) |
| Highest elevation | 2,914 m (9,560 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 925 m (3,035 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,873 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal Code | 2770 |
| Area code | 0749 |
| Website | www |
Location and Transportation
editBansko lies at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, not far from the national park of the same name, in the valley of the Nestos River at an elevation of 925 meters above sea level. It is a ski resort. The city is about 160 km from Sofia and about 220 km from Thessaloniki.
Bansko is a stop on the narrow-gauge Septemvri–Dobrinishte narrow-gauge line from Septemvri to Dobrinishte. There are rail connections (changing in September) to Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas. There are bus connections to Sofia, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Razlog and Gotse Delchev.
The nearby village of Banya, located only 5 km (3 mi) from the town, is known for its 27 thermal mineral springs.
Economy
editThe mountain peaks near the town, the numerous lakes and the old pine woods make it a recreation destination.[1] Bulgaria's share in European winter tourism is steadily rising, and Bansko increasingly competes with resorts in France and Switzerland due to the comparatively lower costs.[2]
Improvements to the infrastructure and organisation of the ski area on Todorka have been made annually to accommodate the rising number of tourists.[3] 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, 14 lifts and drags,[4] serving up to 24,500 persons per hour.[5] 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.[6]
Nowadays Bansko is known as a destination for digital nomads.[7] The influx of digital nomads, including many who have purchased property in the town are claimed to have contributing to stabilising the town's property market and boosting the long-stay tourism in the town particularly outside the winter peak season.[8] There are a growing number of coworking spaces in Bansko including Coworking Bansko is a community of Digital Nomads that has two co-working locations in the north and south part of the town.[9] The annual Bansko Nomad Fest is believed to be one of the world's largest event for digital nomads attracting 700 participants in 2023.[10]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Bansko (2000-2014) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
5.5 (41.9) |
9.6 (49.3) |
15.7 (60.3) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.9 (75.0) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.9 (80.4) |
23.1 (73.6) |
17.2 (63.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.6 (29.1) |
0.7 (33.3) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.6 (49.3) |
14.5 (58.1) |
17.7 (63.9) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
16.1 (61.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
6.4 (43.5) |
0.3 (32.5) |
10.0 (50.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
3.5 (38.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
11.2 (52.2) |
12.6 (54.7) |
12.3 (54.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
5.1 (41.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
4.1 (39.4) |
| Source: Stringmeteo.com | |||||||||||||
Historical climate data
edit| Climate data for Bansko (1931-1970), records 1926-1970 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.4 (52.5) |
18.1 (64.6) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.9 (80.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
32 (90) |
34.1 (93.4) |
36.5 (97.7) |
34.4 (93.9) |
29 (84) |
22.3 (72.1) |
17.2 (63.0) |
36.5 (97.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) |
4.7 (40.5) |
8.7 (47.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
19.7 (67.5) |
23.1 (73.6) |
25.5 (77.9) |
25.8 (78.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
16.5 (61.7) |
10 (50) |
4.7 (40.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) |
0 (32) |
3.4 (38.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
18.9 (66.0) |
18.7 (65.7) |
14.7 (58.5) |
9.9 (49.8) |
5.2 (41.4) |
0.3 (32.5) |
9.3 (48.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −6.1 (21.0) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12 (54) |
11.7 (53.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
3.6 (38.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −24.8 (−12.6) |
−19.3 (−2.7) |
−17 (1) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
1.4 (34.5) |
4.5 (40.1) |
3 (37) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−17.6 (0.3) |
−24.8 (−12.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 71 (2.8) |
59 (2.3) |
52 (2.0) |
56 (2.2) |
65 (2.6) |
57 (2.2) |
42 (1.7) |
31 (1.2) |
37 (1.5) |
65 (2.6) |
79 (3.1) |
80 (3.1) |
694 (27.3) |
| Source: Stringmeteo.com | |||||||||||||
Sports
edit
Bansko has recently hosted FIS World Cup alpine ski races: the women raced in 2009 in two downhills and a super-G.[11] The men's circuit made its first stop at Bansko in 2011 with a super combined and a slalom.[12][13] It hosted the men's giant slalom in February 2012 and the FIS World Cup ladies' downhill and super G,[14] and men's giant slalom and slalom.[15]
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.
Religion
edit
The church "Sveta Troitsa" (Holy Trinity) is an Orthodox Christian church, part of Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was built by the people of Bansko in 1835.
The Bulgarian Evangelical Church Community, the first Protestant church in Bulgaria, was founded in Bansko on 6 August 1868.[16]
Events
edit
The town is the location for an annual jazz event, the Bansko Jazz Festival, and also the annual Bansko pop-star concert.[citation needed] In March, the town hosts the British underground dance fete Horizon Festival.[citation needed] This town held the International Linguistics Olympiad in 2023.[17]
In the last week of June each year the Bansko Nomad Fest is one of the largest events for digital nomads with participants from all over the world taking part.[10][18]
Honours
editBansko Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the town of Bansko.
International relations
editTwin towns – sister cities
editBansko is twinned with:
Amphipolis, Greece- Didymoteicho, Greece
- Doxato, Greece
Zakopane, Poland
Notable people
editNotable people that were born or lived in Bansko include:
- Paisius of Hilendar (1722-1773), author of Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya
- Irina Nikulchina (born 1974), 2002 Winter Olympics bronze medal winner
- Neofit Rilski (1793-1881), monk, teacher and artist
- Nikola Vaptsarov (1909-1942), poet and revolutionary
See also
edit- List of cities and towns in Bulgaria==References==
- ^ "5 Must Do Activities in Bansko Bulgaria". banskoblog.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ Bulgaria's share of the skiing market is rising, The Sofia Echo, 2 December 2011
- ^ staff, The Sofia Globe (2023-11-23). "Bulgaria's Tourism Ministry: All preparations for 2023/24 winter season in place". The Sofia Globe. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Bansko Lifts Status. Check Skiing Conditions Online". Bansko Ski & Snowboard 2020/21, Lift Passes, Equipment Hire, Airport Transfers. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Banskoski. "Официален сайт на Банско". Banskoski (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ banskoski.com Archived February 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine - ski map - accessed 2011-02-26
- ^ "Bansko: Bulgaria's unlikely new digital nomad hub". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ Borg, Victor Paul (2022-06-28). "After property crash, has a small mountain town found its serendipity?". JournalismPlus. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Coworking Bansko - A community for people that prefer to work together than to work alone". www.coworkingbansko.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ a b Gill, Alastair. "Bansko: Bulgaria's unlikely new digital nomad hub". BBC Travel. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ FIS-ski.com - Bansko - World Cup events - 2009 - women
- ^ FIS-ski.com - Bansko - World Cup events - 2011 - men
- ^ Bansko World Cup.com - accessed 2010-02-26
- ^ "Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2011/12 Ladies (L)" (PDF). FIS Ski. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ^ "Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2011/12 Men (M)" (PDF). FIS Ski. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ^ www.protestantstvo.com/show.php?id=35 Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Bansko 2023". International Linguistics Olympiad. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
- ^ Ink, Maria Bou (2023-10-23). "Bansko Nomad Fest: What To Expect At The World's Largest Digital Nomad Celebration". TheTravel. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
External links
edit
Media related to Bansko at Wikimedia Commons
Bansko travel guide from Wikivoyage- "Banskok Ski" website with Information about Bansko, ski slopes, lift passes, webcams
- Bansko Ski world cup event website
- Bansko Culinary tourism website covering the Bansko-Razlog area
- Bansko International jazz festival event website
- Bansko Tourist portal website
- Bansko Mountaineer film festival event website
- Bansko Nomad Fest - event website
- Videlo One-Stop Hub for Ski Lessons, Rental and More
