Varshets
Encyclopedia
Varshets is a spa
town in Montana Province
, northwestern Bulgaria
. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Varshets Municipality
. As of December 2009, its population is 6,538. The town is located on the northern slopes of the western part of the Balkan mountains
in the small valley of the Botunya River, at 43°12′N 23°17′E, 359 metres above sea level. One of the oldest and most popular resorts in northern Bulgaria, it is famous for its curative mineral springs, mild mountain climate, beautiful scenery and a large well-kept park. The town has an excellent tourist infrastructure. There are two spa centres, a polyclinic, numerous rest houses, hotels and also many private lodgings. Varshets has an art gallery, a municipal museum and an Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George
.
A 2nd century BC bronze sculpture of a Thracian
boy found in the vicinity of the town is today a symbol of Varshets. The modern town is linked to Medeca, a Roman
and Byzantine
site first mentioned in the 6th century AD. Varshets' existence was also evidenced in 16th century documents. The first state baths in Varshets were built in 1910 and were run by Damyan Ivanov, a balneologist who specialized in Austria-Hungary
. The New Baths were built in 1930, and the Sun Garden was arranged in 1934. In 1950, Varshets was proclaimed a national resort.
on Smith Island
, South Shetland Islands
is named after Varshets.
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
town in Montana Province
Montana Province
Montana Province is a province in northwestern Bulgaria, bordering Serbia in the southwest and Romania in the north. It spreads its area between the Danube river and Balkan mountain. As of February 2011, the province has a population of 148,098 inhabitants, on territory of 3,635.5 km²...
, northwestern Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Varshets Municipality
Varshets Municipality
Varshets Municipality is a municipality in Montana Province, Northwestern Bulgaria, located on the northern slopes of the western Stara planina mountain to the area of the so called Fore-Balkan...
. As of December 2009, its population is 6,538. The town is located on the northern slopes of the western part of the Balkan mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
in the small valley of the Botunya River, at 43°12′N 23°17′E, 359 metres above sea level. One of the oldest and most popular resorts in northern Bulgaria, it is famous for its curative mineral springs, mild mountain climate, beautiful scenery and a large well-kept park. The town has an excellent tourist infrastructure. There are two spa centres, a polyclinic, numerous rest houses, hotels and also many private lodgings. Varshets has an art gallery, a municipal museum and an Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
.
A 2nd century BC bronze sculpture of a Thracian
Thracians
The ancient Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family...
boy found in the vicinity of the town is today a symbol of Varshets. The modern town is linked to Medeca, a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
site first mentioned in the 6th century AD. Varshets' existence was also evidenced in 16th century documents. The first state baths in Varshets were built in 1910 and were run by Damyan Ivanov, a balneologist who specialized in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. The New Baths were built in 1930, and the Sun Garden was arranged in 1934. In 1950, Varshets was proclaimed a national resort.
Honour
Varshets SaddleVarshets Saddle
Varshets Saddle is a saddle of elevation 1430 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica bounded by Antim Peak to the south-southwest and Slatina Peak to the east. Overlooking Chuprene Glacier to the northwest and Krivodol Glacier to the south and southeast...
on Smith Island
Smith Island (South Shetland Islands)
Smith Island is long and wide, lying west of Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands of the British Antarctic Territory. Surface area ....
, South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
is named after Varshets.
Famous people
- The poet Lachezar StanchevLachezar stanchevLatchezar Stantchev is a Bulgarian poet who first became famous in the 1930s. He is also a well-known translator, journalist, and publisher of children's magazines. He was born on September 12, 1908 in the resort town of Varshetz, located in North-west Bulgaria. He died on March 13, 1992 in Sofia...
was born in Villa Nezabravka (Unforgettable).(born. 12.9.1908, Varshets - died. 13.3.1992, Sofia). - Teodor SalparovTeodor SalparovTeodor Salparov is a Bulgarian volleyball player. He was born on August 16, 1982 in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. He wears the No. 13 shirt in the Bulgarian national team which he has driven to major success in a number of competitions....
- player in the Bulgarian national volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team. - Vyara Ankova - TV journalist, foreign correspondent of the Bulgarian National Television from Greece, wife of Tomas LafchisTomas LafchisTomas Lafchis is a retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper for clubs in Bulgaria, Greece and Belgium.-Playing career:Lafchis began playing football for Bulgarian clubs PFC Cherno More Varna and OFC Sliven. In 1977, he joined PFC Levski Sofia, and helped the club win the Bulgarian Cup.In...
. - Prof. Vesselin Nikiforov, Governor of the Bulgarian National BankBulgarian National BankThe Bulgarian National Bank is the central bank of the Republic of Bulgaria with its headquarters in Sofia. The BNB has been established on 25 January 1879. It is an independent institution responsible for issuing all banknotes and coins in the country, overseeing and regulating the banking sector...
- 1974 - 1984 (source: http://www.bnb.bg/bnb/home.nsf/fsWebIndexBul?OpenFrameset)