The town of Bansko (925 m above sea level) is situated by the Glazne River (the right tributary of Mesta) at the north-eastern foothills of Pirin beneath the highest and most beautiful karst part of the mountain. Its name is related with the ancient Bulgarian word ban (from boean, boyan) which means master. It is 160 km south of Sofia, 60 km south-east of Blagoevgrad, 6 km south of Razlog and 51 km north of Gotse Delchev. Bansko is the entrance to the most beautiful Bulgarian Mountain - Pirin and one of the biggest winter resorts in the country. If one add to this its architectural and historical value, Bansko is a pearl in the Bulgarian necklace.

History

The town rose up on its present location around 9th-10th centuries after the formation of the adjacent quarters of Bansko. In the middle of 18th century Bansko was a big and rich settlement developing crafts and trade. The caravans of Bansko traders travelled to the Aegean to Middle Europe transporting tobacco, poppy seeds form Serr, cotton, processed skins, precious goods, gold. Bansko lived its Golden Age in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century when it reached economic and cultural boom - the Bansko School of Art was established. The representatives of this school introduced lots of secular and historical themes in art. Monastery schools and a mutual school were opened. However, the Napoleon's Wars against Austria and the opening of the waterway along the Danube River put an end to its growth. In the middle of 19th century the economy of the town suffered decay. According to the resolutions of the Berlin Treaty Bansko was left within the boundaries of the Turkish Empire and its inhabitants actively participated in the consequent rebellions - Kresna-Razlog Uprising (1878-1879) and the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising (1903). The town was liberated from the Turkish rule on 5th October 1912 (the Balkan War). Bansko is the native place of the titans of Bulgarian Revival Paisii Hilendarski and Neofit Rilski.

Landmarks

First of all this is the Sveta Troitsa (St. Trinity) Church (the biggest and the richest in the region of Pirin), its construction was completed in 1835. The church strikes the viewer with beautiful frescoes and woodcarvings made by Master Ousta Velyan Ognev. The most outstanding representative of the Bansko School of Art - Dimitar Molerov, painted the icons. The size of the temple is impressive - too big for that time. A thirty-metre high stone tower rises up in the yard of the church (built by Master Grigor Doyuv in 1850) with a belfry and a clock made by Todor Hadzhiradonov and installed in 1869. It is located in the centre of the town behind a high stone fence. The Holy Virgin Church built in 14th century and restored at the end of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century has a wonderful woodcarved iconostasis. The native house of Neofit Rilski - preserved in its initial outer appearance and known as the Benina's House. It is located by the neighbouring St. Trinity Church. The native house of the poet Nikola Vaptsarov - in the centre of the town, on the square of the same name. The Velyanov's House - a monument dating back to the Revival; one of the most beautiful houses having a rich fresco decoration and fine woodcarvings. The Sirleshtov's House is a small fortress. The special role of this house in Bansko is evidenced by the one-metre thick stone walls, the narrow and dark loop-holes, the iron bars on the windows and the heavy doors. The Todev's (Buinov's) House is an illustration of construction mastership and the delicate sense of beauty in everyday life. It was built in 1835. Bansko House of Culture and Art Gallery. A monument of Father Paisii Hilendarski in the centre of the town at the place of his native house.