Bansko is the gateway to the Pirin mountain region in the South of the country and offers a delightful combination of high mountains and ancient history. While probably not as well known outside Bulgaria as Pamporovo and Borovets, Bansko has emerged to the fore over the past couple of years to become the country's leading resort.Offering a true alternative to the Alps, this charming little town will impress any skier who appreciates well-groomed slopes with modern infrastructure in breathtakingly beautiful surroundings.
Bansko offers excellent skiing conditions. The Pirin Mountains have a predominantly Alpine character with 2 peaks towering above 2900m. Skiing in this area is better suited to beginners and intermediates with the majority of the runs being either red or blue. However, experts won't get bored and can take on the 'Alberto Tomba' black run which was opened by the great man himself last year. Bansko is an ideal place to learn to ski on a budget, with a good ski school and plenty of nursery slopes and blue runs.
It is also the main starting point for hiking in the UNESCO protected Pirin National Park-the largest in Bulgaria where the most interesting tree species such as the black fir can be found. Having been a birth place to many national intellectuals and a witness of dramatic history during the centuries, Bansko is of special architectural and cultural value. There are several landmarks which are of great interest: Sveta Troitsa (The Holy Trinity) Church, the Monument of Paissii Hilendarski, the Neofit Rilski House Museum.
