| Roughly equidistant - at around 100 miles - | | | | regularly, and a "high-tech" approach to lift |
| from the major cities of Sofia, and Plovdiv, | | | | passes means that waiting, and queuing, times |
| the region of Bansko has a good local | | | | are reduced to a minimum. |
| infrastructure, and is well served by air, | | | | |
| road and rail links. Bansko is home to many | | | | Attractions |
| prestigious sporting events, including | | | | |
| national championships in snowboarding and | | | | Visitors to Bansko will soon discover the |
| Alpine skiing, during its winter season. | | | | meaning of the word "mehana" - local taverns |
| | | | - featuring affordable food and drink, music |
| Skiing | | | | and dancing, and providing the nucleus of |
| | | | après ski activity, which does tend to be |
| The terrain in the Bansko region is, perhaps, | | | | fairly low-key. |
| more "Alpine" in character than elsewhere in | | | | |
| Bulgaria, with some peaks in excess of 8,000 | | | | Other attractions include the Holy Trinity |
| feet. 17 runs, of varying difficulty, with a | | | | Church, the Bansko Art School, and Velyanova |
| total length of over 40 miles, mean that | | | | House, reconstructed at the turn of the 19th |
| Bansko has something to offer skiers of all | | | | century, by master craftsman, Velin Ognyanov. |
| abilities. | | | | |
| | | | One of the more exciting events of the year |
| The gentler slopes of Todorin Vruh are | | | | takes place on January 1st each year, when |
| suitable for beginners, and expert tuition is | | | | the "Koukeri" - the young, single men - don |
| available from a multilingual ski school, | | | | masks and bells, and roam the streets, to |
| while for more demanding, or experienced | | | | frighten away evil spirits (and imbibe vast |
| skiers, the run from Todorka Peak - itself, | | | | quantities of "rakia", the locally-produced, |
| over 10 miles in length - or the higher | | | | and potent, plum liquor, into the bargain). |
| altitude Shiligraniki Piste - of | | | | |
| international competition standard, for giant | | | | To the south of Bansko, the Pirin National |
| slalom - offer sufficient variety, and level | | | | Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is a |
| of difficulty. | | | | popular destination for tourists, featuring |
| | | | lakes, waterfalls, caves and fragrant pine |
| All of the runs in the Bansko region are, | | | | forests. |
| generally, well-maintained, and groomed | | | | |