A brief presentation of Sandanski, an EDEN 2010 Award Winner.

1. Municipality of Sandanski
Town of Sandanski – Best Spa
Destination of Bulgaria

2. Association of Hotel and Restaurant
Owners and Tour Operators - Sandanski
Member of:
BHRA – Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association
BUBSPA – Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism
ESPA – European Spas Association

3. Municipality of
Sandanski in located in
southwest Bulgaria,
district of Blagoevgrad.
It covers an area of
1002 sq. m., it has 54
smaller settlements and
population of 46 113
people.

4. The territories of
Municipality of Sandanski
include:
- Sandanski-Petrich valley
- The middle course of the
Strouma River
- The Pirin Mountains
- Slavyanka, Maleshevska
and Ograzhden
Mountains.

5. The international road E-79 passes through the
municipality, as does the railroad Sofia-Kulata-Athens. The
distance from the town of Sandanski to Sofia is 160 km, to
Thessaloniki (Greece) is 150 km and it is easily accessible
via their airports.

6. The town of
Sandanski (30 175
people) is the main
administrative and
economic centre of
Municipality of
Sandanski.
It is situated at the
foothills of the Pirin
Mountains and along
the course of the
Bistritsa River.

7. Situated 230 above the sea level, the town of Sandanski is
known as the warmest in Bulgaria, with an average annual
temperature of 13.9 º С, low average relative humidity of
66%, duration of sunshine - 2506 hours, and an average
number of foggy days – 5. The annual average quantity of
precipitation is 513 мм.

8. The mineral water in Sandanski is famous for its proven
healing characteristics. There are several thermal
springs in the resort with temperature between 42-81°С.
Their water is effective for treating illnesses of the
locomotor, central and peripheral nervous systems,
genealogical problems and others.

9. The combination of Mediterranean climate and
healing thermal springs make the town of Sandanski
one of the most famous balneo and spa resorts on the
Balkan Peninsula and the best natural clinic for
bronchial asthma in Europe.

10. Sandanski is proud of the beautiful town park where you can find
more than 200 plant species. Among them are centuries-old
plane-trees.
Sand paths lead to the open theater, stadium, playgrounds, a big
artificial lake with peddle-boats. Wooden swinging bridges hang
over the Bistritsa River.

11. The town of Sandanski has rich 3200 year-old
history, as well as well-preserved archeological
heritage, displayed in the town museum and the
open-air archeological park.

12. The ancient town lies
entirely under
modern Sandanski.
Archeological
researches have
proven its existence
even before the
Trojan War in which
they suppose the
local Thracian tribe
Maedi took part
(according to Homer
- Iliad).

13. During the campaigns along the valley of the Strouma River,
the Roman soldiers captured the Thracian Spartacus from
the tribe Maedi. Later on, he became leader of the biggest
slave uprising against the Roman Empire (74-71 B.C.).
Now, the ancient warrior has become one of the symbols of
Sandanski and proudly welcomes every guest at the town
entrance.

14. The adoption of Christianity as an official religion of the
Roman Empire lead to the flourishing of the Christian
architecture and art in early Particopolis (Sandanski).
Evidence for its role as a religious center in IV-VI c. are the
five basilicas found until now.

15. Cultural monuments from the early Christian period, part of
Archeological Park Sandanski are:
- Early Christian Complex with ancient street and stoa;
- The Basilica of Bishop John – located “in situ” in the
Archeological Museum;
- Bishop’s Basilica – an imposing building with a baptistery.

16. Archeological Museum – Sandanski, established in 1936,
is specialised in the field of ancient archaeology. It has a
rare collection of Roman funeral plastic arts (I-III c.),
ancient statues of Aphrodite and Tyuhe and mosaics from
the early Christian period /IV-VI c./, covering an area of
over 350 sq. m.

17. The barbarians put an end to the spiritual and social order established
in ancient Sandanski. The town was destroyed, but the memory of the
miraculous healing waters remained.
In the Middle Ages the town was given the name of Sveti Vrach (St.
Healer) in memory of the healing brothers Saints Kozma and Damyan.
They helped people without taking any money by using the natural
recourses and the power of faith. Today, their home is a small
monastery and their clinic continues to receive sick people.

18. With its thousand-year old history Sandanski has proved to be a
leading balneological center. In recent years, with the
development of spa tourism, the resort attracts new guests. The
town is a favourite relax center for tourists from the Balkan
Peninsula and Europe.

19. Festive Sandanski
Pirin Folk Festival is
appreciated by fans
of contemporary
Macedonian folklore.
It is held in the first
week of September
in the Open theater
of the town and gives
opportunity to young
singers, composers
and lyrics writers to
show their talent.

20. The Balkan Youth Festival gives an opportunity to
young gifted people from all spheres of art to perform
and meet with each other.

21. Melnik is located 24 km southeast of the town of
Sandanski. It is a small fairy town, declared town-museum
and architectural reserve of international cultural
significance.

22. Melnik has a thousand-year-old history. In XIII c. it became
a centre of Despot Alexius Slav’s dominion, whose fortress
was built on the hill above the town.
Melnik is known for its numerous churches and
monasteries (70) - “St. Zona”, “St. Anthony”, “St. Nicolas”,
among others.
The Sand Pyramids raising above the town are declared
natural landmark.

23. There is hardly anyone who has
not heard of Churchill’s favourite
drink – the thick Melnik wine.
For centuries it has represented
Bulgarian winery throughout the
world and has been present on
the tables of Venetian, Spanish
and French noblemen.
The variety of the vine – Shiroka
Milnishka, grows only in the
region of Melnik and the
neighbouring villages.

24. There are two festivals held in the town in honour of the
Melnik wine. These are “Grape Harvest in Melnik” and
“Golden Grape Bunch”. They celebrate the two most
important stages of the life of wine – the gathering of the
grapes and its drinkable period.

25. Melnik offers very good accommodation possibilities. There
are 14 hotels and hotel houses built on its territory. The
biggest among them are “Melnik”, “Elli Greko”, “Slav’s
Fortres”, “Bolyarka”.

26. Only 6 km away from Melnik is the small pretty village
of Rozhen. On the hill above it is located the biggest
religious temple in the Pirin region and one of the
oldest spiritual centers in Bulgaria – the Rozhen
Monastery (XII c.).

27. The territories of Municipality of Sandanski include part of
Pirin National Park, protected by UNESCO.
18 km from Sandanski, in the Pirin Mountains, is located
the mountain area of Popina Laka with the famous Popina
Laka Waterfall (11 m) – declared a natural landmark.

28. Slavyanka Mointain, located on the border between
Bulgaria and Greece, possesses the biggest deposit of
European Black Pine on the Balkans. Because of its
location, Slavyanka has preserved its territories barely
touched by humans. They are now protected by the
establishment of Alibotush Natural Reserve.

29. More than 30 modern hotels in the region with 3800
beds, balneo and spa centers welcome tourists and
guests of Sandanski. In their conference halls are
organized meetings on business, political or scientific
thematics.

30. Pirin Park-Hotel
Located in the town
park, next to the
Bistritsa River, it
has a modern spa
center and offers to
its clients balneo
procedures with
typical Bulgarian
herbs, various spa
and wellness
procedures ,
physiotherapy,
rehabilitation and
other therapies.

31. Interhotel Sandanski
Located in the town
park, it is one of the
biggest balneo and spa
hotels in Bulgaria.
Its balneo center offers
modern treatment and
prophylaxis for upper
respiratory disorders,
bronchial asthma,
locomotor system, post
fracture statuses,
rheumatism,
osteoporosis, peripheral
nervous system.

32. Medite SPA Hotel
The hotel has a spectacular
panoramic view over the town of
Sandanski.
Its spa center offers a variety of
relaxing therapies, cosmetic
procedures with rehabilitation
effect, spa and balneo programs.

33. Sveti Nikola SPA
Hotel
The hotel is located in
the very center of
the town of
Sandanski. Amidst
the attractive interior
and the calming
atmosphere in the
spa center, 30 types
of services and
healing procedures
are offered -
massages,
physiotherapy,inhala
tion, and others

34. Tourist Information Center
– Sandanski
Tourist Information Center
- Melnik

35. TIC – Sandanski offers to its visitors the opportunity to
enjoy the local life, folklore, art and crafts. The activities
include:
- Folk songs and dances from the Pirin region
- Pirin and Roman wedding
- Crafts – forging, spinning, knitting, weaving
- Stained glass, woodcarving, icon painting
- Local dishes

36. Alternative and extreme tourism:
- Kayaking
- Canyoning
- Hiking
- Mountain biking
- Military-applied sport
- Shooting
- Horse riding

37. Welcome to Sandanski!