CELEBRATIONS

The Day of Banya is celebrated during the whole last week of August. The celebration usually starts with hoisting the flag of Banya and includes folklore concerts, children’s entertaining programmes, famous singers’ performances, evening discotheque and fireworks. The feast goes off under the heading “I love you because I know you”. The highlight of the event is on Saturday and Sunday. The celebrations begin at 10:30 in the morning and go on until 12:00 at midnight. Miss and Mr. Beach competition is held by the central pool. An open air discotheque, folk performers and orchestras, cheerleaders’ groups and festive illuminations are some of the features.
24th December - Christmas Eve is celebrated round a big Christmas tree in the town centre and a traditional concert is performed by local folk bands.
On St Jordan’s day (1st January), a cross is thrown in the river Stryama, and the young man who catches it goes round the houses in the town.
On the day of the vine-growers called Trifon Zarezan, on the hill by the town of Banya, people eat boiled mutton, drink wine and enjoy various folk concerts.
At the end of February or the beginning of March (7 weeks before Easter), a Day of the Elderly People is held. The inhabitants of the town walk through the town centre and join the koukers (old people), who dance to the sounds of bells and chase the evil away. A competition for the best mask and kouker is held. This is the day for forgiveness, which has a powerful, uniting meaning and original way of communication.
On St. Lazar’s Day the children from the folklore band walk the houses, dance horo (traditional Bulgarian dance), sing songs to “Lazar”, call down blessings on the hosts for good health and rich harvest, and according to the tradition they give them eggs and coins.
On the national holiday – 3rd March, official ceremonies and celebrations are held.
Special celebrations are organized and held to mark 24th May and 1st June in the town of Banya.

Banya - sights
“Girl’s breasts" (“Momini gardi”)
From every point in Banya, one can see two heights which resemble girls’ breasts, so the local people call them “Girl’s breasts". Thousands of years ago Banya was a lake, and on “Girl’s breasts" have been found remains of pegs and chains with which the inhabitants of that time used to tie their boats. There used to be a Thracian settlement which is proven by the number of archaeological finds – coins, containers, bones.

The Tsar’s palace
Tsar Boris III came to Banya for the first time in 1925 and stayed with his friend – the manufacturer V. Bagarov, after an unsuccessful treatment of his rheumatism in Hissar. At that time the tsar had the opportunity to estimate the advantages of the Karlovo baths. A bit later in 1929 Boris III’s villa was built in the northern part of the village after the design of the famous Bulgarian architect Ivan Vasilyov. The villa, called “The Palace” by the local people, is one of the six private real estates owned by the Kobourgotski - the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (the royal family) and the only private house built by Boris III. The land on which the villa was built had been bought from farmers living in Banya. The total area of the small architectural ensemble is 10 decares as 7 decares is the area of the park. The villa was built in compliance with the Bulgarian architecture from the time of the National Revival, featuring the typical for its style elements and details, i.e. the big veranda, which breaks the monotony of the facade strong line. The veranda is covered with Italian tiles (terracotta), and five strong oak boughs ensure its safety. The windows are covered with shutters and other elements, borrowed from the typical Bulgarian house from the time of the Bulgarian Revival. The complex also includes two other smaller buildings designed for guests and servants. The whole property is surrounded by an impressive, tall, stone wall with two oak, wrought gates.
Boris III is famous for his love and interest in botany, so a magnificent park in which the tsar’s house was situated had been built there. At that time a small river was running through the garden, watering highly esteemed plant species. Some of them have not survived till these days, but the garden has preserved its charm thanks to its various trees and bushes.
Today the villa belongs to the tsar’s family again. It is cared for by the “Rose valley” winery, which has the right to use Simeon II’s emblem for ever.
“Cypress” restaurant–Bagarov’s ex-house.
The Bagarovi family built a rose oil factory in Banya in 1925. When for the first time in Banya, Tsar Boris stayed with them in their estate. After 1944 exarch Yosiph, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, was sent into exile there. Later on the house was run by VMZ Sopot and preserved in excellent condition. The most beautiful in the house is the ceiling, which is covered by wood-carving. The old building, situated in the yard, was designed for the servants. The restaurant itself is in a new building. Sitting there, you will be able to feel the peace, silence and coolness of the river Stryama.
Kishish neighbourhood
The small village of Kalugerovo (Kishish neighbourhood) is situated along the river Stryama, 2 km away from Banya Near it there are a number of wells full of cold spring water. Beech foliage leaves have been found in the wells, which shows that the water comes from the Stara Planina mountains. The place is tucked away and during the Turkish yoke the local people hid there from the Turks. In Kishish neighbourhood there were two rose-distilleries and two beautiful houses belonging to the owners.  Only two chimneys are left from the distilleries; one of the two houses has been restored.
The river Stryamа – picnic and fishing
Coming to Banya, you may decide to have a picnic by the river Stryama. Along the river there is a fulling-mill, a breeding-pond, a pheasant farm. For the fishing lovers, in the river Stryama you can find chub, mountain barbell and trout. You can go fishing not only in the river Stryama, but also in the dam lake in the village of Mihiltsi (4 km away) and in the Domlyan dam lake (8 km away).