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Healthful holidays in the Rhodope Mountains – Narechenski Bani

Photo: www.assenovgrad.com
Narechenski Bani located in the folds of the central Rhodope Mountains, Southern Bulgaria, is one of the country’s oldest spa and recreational resorts. Regardless of the magnetic power of the curative mineral waters and the growing number of visitors, the resort has preserved its natural wealth to date.

© Photo: narechenskibani.eu

Narechenski Bani originated in 1891. The waters in the three mineral springs – the Salty Spring, the Eye Spring and the Bath Spring have been recommended as key support in the treatment of disorders of the nervous system, diabetes, cardiovascular and thyroid disorders. In the meantime, the clean air, the beauty of the local nature and the options for recreation attract fans of rural tourism and anybody who loves the serenity of the mountain. People from across Bulgaria come to Narechenski Bani to ease their health problems. Petio Nikolov works as teacher in a high school of informatics in the town of Cherven Briag, Central Northern Bulgaria. In 2004 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and some years on, discovered the curative power of the mineral waters in this part of the great Rhodope Mountains. Petio Nikolov was fascinated with the place and created a website to promote Narechenski Bani.

“If you come to visit Narechenski Bani for treatment, the most favorable time of the year is either the spring, or end-October and early November. The summer is too hot sometimes but it is also good time for families with children because the resort has several swimming pools with lukewarm mineral water. Until recently Narechenski Bani had two sanatoria. Now a new one has been built too. The rental of private rooms is also a decent accommodation option. During their stay here visitors can opt for outings to various intriguing sites. A popular one-day trip will take you to Perperikon in the Eastern section of the Rhodopes, where the remains of a major cult complex from Antiquity can be seen. Cavers are welcome to the Devil’s Gullet and Yagodinska caves. The picturesque town of Trigrad is also quite close. In a nutshell, Narechenski Bani is a wonderful place to visit”, Petio Nikolov says.

© Photo: narechenskibani.eu

The lovely village has about 1000 permanent residents but in the summer this number grows to the average of 3000. Guests are welcome to new family hotels and guesthouses. Narechenski Bani is the right place to taste some quite characteristic Rhodope meals – patatnik (potato cake), beans in an earthen pot with herbs and katmi (pancakes but with no eggs) served with wild berry jam. The curative effect of the mineral water combines with the benefits of the clean air and the amazing sights of the mountain. The result is a powerful stress-releasing action. In the nearby biosphere reserve Chervenata Stena (The Red Wall) visitors can see hundreds of plant species, some of them listed on Bulgaria’s Red Book of endangered species, as well as the highest waterfall in the Rhodope Mountains – Slivodolsko Padalo. Its waters fall from a height of 50 m. In this way Narechenski Bani is both a place for fixing a few health problems, and for a rewarding experience amid the scenery of the breath-taking nature of the Rhodopes offering a few adventures as well.

English version: Daniela Konstantinova
По публикацията работи: Lina Ivanova


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