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Velingrad - Come, Bathe and be Cured

Hotels in Velingrad

Velingrad - Come, Bathe and be Cured

The Sofia Echo, Magdalena Rahn, 15.01.2007

That Velingrad is one of two Bulgarian cities to be named after a woman is not its only attractive feature. Its mineral waters – which can be found at corner fountains around the town, with both hot and cold water taps – offer curative properties and a delicious warmth during the winter. This western Rhodope Mountain location traces civilisation in its bounds back to the Thracian era. A tribe called Bessie left remanats through mounds, a necropolis and signs of fortresses. Documentary evidence for that period exists in descriptions from the historians Heredity and Tukidit. And, both Spartacus and Orpheus were alleged residents of the area. After conquest by the Romans (46 AD), the Thracians and Romans lived together, until the until Slavs came to power at the beginning of the sixth century. In early December, we visited Velingrad and stayed at the Hotel Olymp, one of many hotels in the town. There’s really no exact address; it’s just one of the two big, new hotels on the hillside. For me, the hightlight of the clean, impressive facilities – including a full-service spa (here, meaning massages and beauty treatments), restaurant (where is served each morning a smorgashboard breakfast, free of charge for hotel guests), lobby bar, computer/internet corner (and apparently free, for it was dominated by game-playing children), comfortable rooms with cosy bathrobes and more – was the large indoor mineral water swimming pool. Water temperature: a delicious 31 °C. There’s also an outdoor and a kiddy pool. Front desk staff were competent enough, and friendly, though the restaurant serves unexceptional hotel food. A double room goes for between 80-100 leva, depending on the season. The town itself is delightful, calm and charming. Many years ago, Velingrad was actually three separate villages, joined in 1948 and named after Kamenitsa-born Vela Peeva, a female partisan leader killed during the partisan uprisings of the mid-1940s. Along (and off of) the main road (Suedinenie) are enough restaurants, cafes and shopping options to keep anyone pleased. Walking down it, you can see what look like the former centre square areas of the former three villages. Velingrad’s mineral water basin is one of the biggest and well investigated in the southern Bulgaria thermal region. Waters there are rich in nitrogen and fluoride, among other minerals and rare elements. Springs are grouped into four hydrothermal sources named after the three former villages that now constitute Velingrad – Chepeno, Luzhene and Kamenitsa – and nearby village Draginovo, which have different temperatures and chemical compositions. Going from south to north, there are increased levels of saltiness, temperature, sulfates, sodium, fluoride and silcon dioxide. Research shows that these elements have positive effects on the human body, with particular benefit to muscles and bone fractures; gynaecological, nervous system, kidney and stomach conditions; and the respiratory tract. One of the largest thermal sources in the country is located in the Chepino neighbourhood of Velingrad. Waters are alkaline (carbonates, sulfates, sodium) and fluorous, with low mineralisation. They are distinguished by their for their higher radioactivity, and have increased levels of tungsten, silver and others. The hottest mineral waters are 91 °C and are located in the Kamenitsa borough – hydrocarbonate, fluoride, sodium and silicon, and with high mineralisation. Some of the water basins have hydrosulfates. In the south-eastern part of he Kamenitsa is Syarna Banya, whose waters present beneficial sulphuro-nitro-silico-hydrocarbon-flourous properties. It contains notable quantities of hydrogen sulphide and hydrophosphates, calcium, magnesium and copper. Water flows out of the source at 88.9 °C, with it reaching 39-39.9 °C in the baths. Given the temperature of the baths, it is recommended to consult a doctor before soaking. Once in, though, it can assist with gynaecological conditions, atherosclerosis, hypertension types I and II and some nervous system conditions, among others. A cycle of two days of soaks followed by one of none, for a total of 12-15 baths, is recommended. Velyova Banya is in the western part of the Luzhene borough of Velingrad. Its 43.9 °C water is noted for its nitro-sulphuro-silico-hydrocarbon-flourous properties. It has a pH of 9.8 and is used – at its natural temperature – for therapeutic spa treatments. Among other reasons, people seek out the waters of Velyova Banya for cures to stomach-intestinal, liver-gall bladder, and nervous system conditions (all via bathing); and for lung conditions and to improve functions of the upper resperatory system (via inhalation of the steam). For drinking, spring number 11 is recommended. Imbibing, more so, sipping 500ml before eating, of this liquid three to four times daily for 25-30 days is said to assist with stomach-intestinal, kidney (including kidney stones) and liver-gall bladder (including stones) conditions. Of course, this is all to be done in concert with healthy eating and living and a doctor’s watchful eye. Kremuchna Banya finds itself in the same area of the town. Its 35-36.9 °C water (which starts at a temperature of 63.9 °C) is noted for its sulphuro-nitro-silico-hydrocarbon-flourous properties. It has a pH of 9.18 and offers itself, via bathing, for curative spa treatments in the areas of nervous system, metabolic, cardiac and skin conditions, among others. A cycle of two to three days of five- to 25-minute soaks followed by one day of no soaking (about 10-15 baths total) is said to assist these conditions. A note about the water: believe the claims of its healing properties, if not only for the psychological relaxation and soothingness of soaking for a few hours, then also for its internal cleansing powers. Drinking the water was a natural diuretic. See source