25.10.2007

Opportunities for Ski, Golf, Spa and Balneology in the Region of Bansko and Razlog

The southwestern part of Bulgaria in the picturesque region of Razlog valley, at the foot of the Pirin, Rodope and Rila mountains is now being transformed into a unique tourism centre, offering great opportunities for ski, golf, spa tourism and balneology.

The climate of Razlog valley, where the picturesque tourism centers Razlog, Bansko, Dobrinishte and Banya are situated, characterizes as moderate with expressive mountain character and slight Mediterranean influence.

The settlements in the region have a very good infrastructure, road nets, railway connections, Internet and mobile phone coverage. The seaside resorts on Aegean Sea in Greece are just 140 km away from the region and the connection between the countries will become even easier with the opening of the new international road Simitly – Predela – Razlog – Bansko – Gotse Deltchev.

This will increase the tourism flow between the two countries and will create opportunities for the combination of sea and mountain tourism in the region. The exceptional views towards the majestic mountains Pirin, Rodope and Rila, the mineral springs and the excellent conditions for ski tourism transformed the site into attractive place for tourists all year round.

This provoked the attention of the investors and for a very short time, the resorts were equipped with luxurious hotels, that attract the attention of world wide famous people like Hristo Stoichkov, Alberto Tomba, Mark Ghirardelli and etc.

Major administrative, culture and economy centre of the region is Razlog. The town and its surroundings offer excellent tourism base, as well as very well marked tourism routes in the mountains, which is favorable for the development of mountain tourism. A huge tourism centre in the central part of Razlog is now being developed to satisfy the tourism demand in the region.

Excellent conditions for mountain (winter and summer) tourism, as well as balneology tourism are offered in the region. Just two kilometres away from the town, the Katarino site is situated, famous for its mineral springs, with water temperature between 19 – 26 ̊̊ C. A popular hotel complex in the region is Katarino Spa Hotel.

The “Kulinoto” site offers excellent conditions for mountain sports and tourism. It is situated just 12 km away from Razlog town and 14 km from Bansko resort. It is lies south of the Predel saddle in the Valley of Kulina River, 1400 m above the sea level, among venerable beech forest.

The site offers a 1300 m long ski slope. It is serviced by a “Pomagalski” drag lift, together with a baby drag lift. At the moment the “Ski Zone and Tourism Body Kulinoto - Predel” is being projected.

The project should be completed in three years and includes the construction of a ski zone with a total length of the ski slopes almost 60 km, situated at the foot of Dautov peak.

The slopes will be serviced by a net of lifts with a total length of 20 km. The planed daily capacity of the resort will be 6 500 skiers. The bed capacity will include 3 000 beds in luxurious complexes and hotels.

The golf complex will comprise of a golf course, club building, hotel and shopping complexes. The investment in the project will be 240 million BGN. The resort is planned to operate all year round.

During the last several years the neighbouring town of Bansko proved to be the most modern and attractive mountain resort not only in Bulgaria, but on the whole Balkan Peninsula.

The resort offers excellent conditions for all winter sports with its 56 km ski slopes and modern equipment for both advanced and beginner skiers. The ski season is guaranteed from December until May, thanks to the 30 snow cannons for artificial snow TechnoAlpin.

A second cabin lift is now in process of construction and will service ski zone Bansko. The hotel base in the resort offers a huge capacity, of mainly high class hotels, luxurious apartment complexes and accommodation, which covers all European quality standards.

Bansko region is also famous for its mineral springs. Together with the modern spa centres in the resort they offer opportunities for complete relax and recreation.

There is no doubt that the best spa centre in the resort is Kempinski Grand Arena. Each of the high class hotel complexes offer different massages and relaxing spa procedures, performed by professionals in the field.

During the rest of the year Bansko offers great emotions with diversity of conditions for mountain sports for both amateur and professional mountaineers.

 The remarkable Pirin Mountain offers crystal clear lakes, green forests and proudly rising peaks.

Bansko itself is extremely attractive, because of its rich historical and cultural inheritance and the numerous monuments and houses in a traditional local architectural style.

The most famous balneology mountain resort in the region – Dobrinishte is situated just six kilometres away from the popular resort of Bansko. The town offers 17 mineral springs with temperatures between 30 – 43 ̊ C and several medical institutions with open air mineral pools.

Ski complex “Dobrinishte” is a starting position for ski tourism during the winter, with a 5 km long ski slope. The “Bezbog” chalet is the starting position and the final is at “Gotse Delchev” chalet. It is 25 – 30 wide with inclination of 826 m. The ski slope is services by a two seat lift and drag lifts.
Plans for the development of the ski zone of the resort are now bei

ng prepared. The project of the ski zone in Dobrinishte is being prepared by arch. Emil Lekov, who also directed the construction of the ski zone in Bansko. The project plans the construction of ski slopes and equipment with a total length of 40 km. The accommodation base will be with a capacity for 10 thousand tourists.

The project also plans the construction of a luxurious and modern base for spa and wellness procedures. The investment is assessed to reach 200 million BGN.

Another interesting mountain and balneology resort, with huge perspectives for the development of the tourism industry in Razlog region is Banya village. The village is just 5 km away from Bansko and Razog resorts. The village and its vicinities offer 70 warm mineral springs with an average temperature of the water of 55 ̊ C, which are absorbed in open air swimming pools and a mineral bath.

The village was settled ever since ancient times, which is explained with the exuberance of warm mineral springs in the site. Numerous remains from a Thracian village were found in the region. A sanctuary of God Apollonius existed nearby the central bath. Coins with the portraits of Philip Macedonian and Alexander Macedonian were found during the captivation of the mineral springs.

The rich historical past of the village, combined with the natural recourses, the beautiful views towards the mountains Pirin and Rila and the proximity of the famous ski resort Bansko, provoke high tourism and investor interest in the region. Several new luxurious tourism complexes offer high quality spa and wellness procedures and excellent conditions for relax and recreation in the resort. New hotel complexes are also in process of construction, to satisfy the high demand for tourism in the resort.

Except for snow sports lovers and tourists searching for spa and wellness procedures, the region is being transformed into an attractive site for golf lovers. Seven projects for the construction if golf courses are being developed in the region. Six of the courses will be situated close to Razlog town, and the seventh – nearby Bansko.

The first majour complex is “Pirin Golf Holidays Club”, which will be situated on a total area of 1400 dka in the Betlovoto site. “Balkanstroy” company is investor and executor of the project. The course, projected by the golf legend Ian Usnam will be with 18 wholes and will take an area of 900 dka.

Residential buildings, family houses and hotel complexes, with a total number of 700 apartments will be constructed near the golf course. The complex is planned to be completed during the next year and partially has already started operating.

The total value of the investments in the hotel part reached 130 million BGN. The complexes will be of five star category with modern spa centre, swimming pool, tennis courses and volleyball playgrounds, as well as a horseback riding base.

The site Tsarnako – Betlovoto will host the second project of “Balkanstroy” – “Pirin Golf & Country Club”, also for 130 million BGN. According to the project the complex will be on1000 decares land plot, 780 decares of which will be taken by the golf course. Residential buildings, hotel part and sport- amusement centre. It is planned to be completed after 3 – 4 years.

The third golf course, close to Razlog town is “Kulinoto Ski & Golf”, which is being developed together with Razlog municipal and “Balkanstroy”. The investments in it will be 240 million BGN.

 Except for the golf course, the company will also construct a ski centre with 59 km ski slopes and 20 km lifts. Hotels and residential buildings for around 3000 beds will be constructed close by the equipments.

During the last year the sites around Razlog attracted numerous Bulgarian and foreign investors. Several vacation complexes are now being constructed and more than 1000 decares in the region of the future golf courses are already sold.

Four villages in Razlog municipal will also offer golf courses. On the last session, the local Razlog parliament decided, that the municipal will participate in four companies of the villages Dobarsko, Godlevo, Gorno Draglishte and Dolno Draglishte.

The complex nearby Dobarsko will be the fourth one for “Balkanstroy”, and the joint company “Rila Golf & Spa Resort” will receive 1390 decares of land plots from the municipal, for 30% of the capital.

 Dobarsko is already a famous tourism destination with its unique church “St. St. Theodore Tyron and Theodore Stratilate”, built in 1914 and a church from the national Revival period with well preserved antique oven.

Together with the company from Great Britain ECRM the joint company will be called “Razlog Golf Club”. The municipal will hold 30% of the shares, as it will participate with 2235 decares of land nearby Dolno Draglishte. Razlog municipal will also develop a plan of the region.

1430 decares will be provided for the golf course nearby Gorno Draglishte. It will be constructed by “Razlog Valley Golf & Spa”, and the municipal will hold 30 % of the shares. The investor is the Bulgarian company “Valley”.

The municipal will also hold one fifth of the shares in “White Mountain Golf Club” complex nearby Godlevo, for 1400 decares of land plots. The complex is just seven kilometres away from Razlog.

Investor is the Austrian “North Investment” GMBH. Not far from the future golf course, in Godlevo village itself, a luxurious complex with excellent facilities and extras, called “Godlevo resort” is also about to be constructed.

The projection and construction of the complexes will take six years. Razlog municipality guarantees the realization of the project, as it participates in all of them.

The “Golf Plus” company, owned by the first Bulgarian cosmonaut Mr. Georgi Ivanov, prepared the project for the golf course in Bansko.

Several years ago the organization won an auction for 370 decares municipal land.
The concentration of golf complexes on the territory of Pirin will inevitably lead to the growth of the region as a first class international golf destination, which combined with the excellent ski slopes in Bansko and the new ski slopes which will be constructed in the Kulinoto site and the Dobrinishte resort is a prerequisite for steady development of the region.

 The spa and wellness recourses of the region are also very attractive, which transforms the Razlog valley into the most developed tourism zone for all year round tourism in Bulgaria.

This small paradise nook huddled at the foot of the three mountains Pirin, Rodope and Rila, becomes a worldwide famous destination for ski, golf and spa tourism, attracting the attention of high-standing tourists.

Source: Kamelia Krumova, www.VisitBulgaria.NET, October 2007