THE TOWN OF BANJA HISTORY

The town of Banya, famous most of all as a resort, is situated 12 km south to Karlovo, 47 km north to Plovdiv, and 15 km north-east to Hissar.
The proximity to Karlovo, Kalofer and Sopot provides holidaymakers, tourists and people receiving treatment in spa centers with the opportunity to visit the sights in the region. Banya is located in the south-eastern part of the Stryamska valley, surrounded by Sredna Gora Mountain to the south; the river Stryama runs in the west of the town.
The town is situated at 282 m above sea level, and the lowest point of the Stryamska valley is just below the sanatorium.
The natural resources of this region are favourable to relaxation and medical treatment. The Stryamska valley is famous for its picturesque sceneries. It is surrounded by the awesome chain of the Stara Planina Mountains, which towers at its highest in this place.
The climate in Banya and the surrounding area is mild, transitional-continental, with a certain nuance of Mediterranean climate; cold and strong winds are not typical, winter is comparatively mild, spring comes early, autumn is long, and summer hot. This optimum microclimate is one of the conditions for the healing powers of the resort. The resort boasts admirable opportunities for complex balneotherapy and medical bath treatment as well as for prophylaxis, relaxation and tourism.
The history of Banya is centuries-long. Life around the warm mineral springs originated as far back in time as the New Stone Age - VI millennium BC. At a distance of about 1 km south-east to the town, there is a big hill known as the Flat Mound. The whole area around it has taken the same name. The mound is 5 m tall and has 7 cultural layers. The railway Plovdiv-Karlovo crosses the western part of the hill. A settlement existed there in the early period of the Stone – Copper Age (VІ – ІV millennium BC). Homes, fireplaces, containers, ceramic fragments painted with white paste, religious tables, and artifacts (instruments of production, made of stone, flint, bone and horn) were discovered during the conducted archaeological excavations.
A few finds from ancient time – about the V century BC, were discovered in the neighborhood of the settlement. They are clear evidence of trade relations between the people inhabiting the valley of the river Stryama as well as of the availability of important economic centres in the remote past.
A couple of Thracian settlements existed in the proximity of Banya. One of them was situated on the south slope of “Girl’s breasts (Momini gardi)” hill, located in the north-east to the town. On the land of Banya and in its proximity there are lots of Thracian burial mounds. To the north of the town in “Pette mogili” area, there is a Thracian necropolis containing five burial mounds.
At the end of the XV century Banya was referred to as town. It is obvious that in that period the settlement increased and its economy stabilized.
Three factories for rose oil distillation, owned by Velizar and Ivan Bagarovi are situated in the town. The brothers also built villas whose style, facilities and gardens were taken as a model. A bit later in 1929, the villa of Tsar Boris III was built in the northern part of the town, designed by the famous Bulgarian architect Ivan Vasilyov. Boris III went to Banya for the first time in 1925.
On 19 July 1936, the Mineral baths, these days known as Central baths, were officially open. The building was designed by the architects Yordan Yordanov and Sava Ovcharov following a plan from 1930.  The functional building is distinguished for its original idea of combining a prismatic body – main entry, and a cylindrical body - two wings. In the right wing there is a small pool with a bath and a changing room especially built for the royal family, these days known as “The Tsar’s Bath”.
On the same day when the Mineral baths were open, a fountain – monument with a casualty list of Banya’s citizens was open as well.
In 1937 the building of a park situated in the eastern part of the settlement, covering an area of 100 decare, egan.
In 1943 the production of rose hip flour was launched for the first time in Bulgaria, and the process of drying rose hip in drying - ovens was introduced in Velizar Bagarov’s factory.
The Neofit Rilski school (1878) was developed into a combined one - primary and junior high (up to 7 grade, numbering about 200 children), after the Liberation (in 1932). The library-club was founded in 1914, after the teacher Stefan Savov’s idea. It was open on 24th May the same year and was called “Kiril and Metodii”. In 1956 a new building for the library – club was built in the centre of the town.
The “St. Constantine and Elena” church in Banya was built in 1860. During the Russian-Turkish war of liberation (1877-1878) it was burnt down to ashes, but later on restored. The church is pseudo-basilica with a nave and two aisles, which was very common at the time of the Bulgarian Revival.
Banya is associated with the life of Exarch Yoseph, who was sent into exile for almost 10 years (from 21st October 1947 to 1957). He lived in the nationalized V. Bagarov’s villa, outside the town, on the right of the road to Plovdiv (now the “Cypress (Kiparis)” garden-restaurant).
The recovery of the catchment area around the springs started in 1949. A new plan of the public utilities has been approved, the town has water supply laid on, it is provided with sewerage, and asphalt - paved.
In 1957 a machine and tractor station serving 15 farms in Banya and the villages around was open. Greenhouses occupying an area of 300 decares, producing a great amount of vegetables, have been built.
In 1968 Banya was declared a national resort and a development programme was implemented.
In 1958 a new modern public bath – “Banche” was open and, it is still functioning today. The buildings of the male and female departments are almost equal, above the spring itself, and the heating of the changing rooms is really functional – floor heating, used by the ancient Romans.
In the resort there are 10 springs of mineral water with different temperature and capacity. Eight of them have been piped. The water is slightly mineralized, sodium – hydrogen carbonate, fluoric. It is suitable for medical treatment of joint cases, gynaecological illnesses, high and low blood pressure, gastric ulcers and others.
In the northern part of the town there is a winery called “Rose valley”, in which the famous Karlovo muscatel wine whose glory crossed the borders of the country long ago is made. In Banya there is a stadium featuring its own hotel. A new railway and bus stations have been built.
Banya was declared a town with resolution № 528 from 30th August 2002 passed by the Council of Ministers. The event was marked with a commemorative plaque laid on a moraine in the centre of the town.
In Banya there are three mineral water swimming pools – Olympic, medicinal and children’s. Under medical care the ill and the holidaymakers can take advantage of the various physiotherapy procedures.