Velingrad mountains. Velingrad is the most famous balneological resort in Bulgaria. Transport in the city

More recently, a small picturesque town at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains was considered an ordinary balneological center in Bulgaria with an underdeveloped tourist environment. Today, Velingrad, namely, it is one of the most attractive spa resorts in Europe. And all thanks to the fact that in 2009 this place was noticed and declared the spa center of the Balkans and tourists flowed here like a river. Luxury hotels, numerous mineral pools, conference halls and presidential apartments are being built, everything is created for comfortable conditions for rest and treatment.

Velingrad is located in the Pazardzhik region, in the community of the same name. The picturesque valley of the Yadenitsa River, in the south of the region, is considered the best part of the Western Rhodopes. The first settlements in this place date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, the Thracians lived here, followed by the Slavs and Bulgarians. The resort itself was formed quite recently, in 1948, after the unification of three villages - Chepino, Kamenitsa and Lydzhene. To date, the permanent population of the town is about 24.5 thousand people.

• Founded: 1948;
• Area: 125 km²;
• Time zone: UTC+2, summer UTC+3;
• Population: 21,600.

Climatic features

The Alpine climate favors a relatively short and cool summer. Winters, on the other hand, are warm and mild. Snow lies about 50 days a year. Medium annual temperature 9 degrees. The coldest month is January, the temperature is 1.8 degrees. The hottest July, the temperature is +18.8 degrees. The mountains protect the city from strong winds. This microclimate makes the resort in Bulgaria unique.

Transport accessibility

Velingrad is located south of Sofia, 130 kilometers and 85 kilometers. Both there and there is an international airport. Which to choose? - it's up to you to decide. Then you can use the options - train or bus. The city has two railway stations and two bus stations.

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Treatment and rest

In count mineral springs Velingard is the largest resort in the country, and only out of 80. In total, 6 of the largest balneo centers were built on 56 springs. The Women's Bath is located in the Lydzhene quarter, next to the mineral beach and the spa clinic. Vel'ova Banya, built in 1640, is located in the same area. Not far from the beach is the Men's Bath. Rodonovaya Banya, built in 1750, is located 500 meters from Lake Kleptuza. Between the area of ​​Lydzhene and Kamenitsa there is a Mud Bath. Hydrosulphuric Bath, built in 1920 in the Kamenitsa area. Mineral waters in Velingrad are slightly mineralized, hydrocarbonate-sulfate.

Treatment in Velingrad can be diversified with shops, restaurants, bars, tennis courts, art galleries, a historical museum and, of course, extensive excursions in the picturesque surroundings.

What to see

Velingrad is surrounded by picturesque nature, and perhaps the most visited place is Lake Kleptuza. This is a real miracle of nature - a karst lake, which is legendary. It is surrounded by evergreen forests and the natural park of the same name. Water bike rentals and a wide variety of restaurants are available on site.

Just 18 kilometers from the city is the Lepenitsa cave, which is 1525 meters long. There is underground river and several lakes. Located 14 kilometers small village Dorkovo, where the largest locality of mastodons dating back to 5-6 million years was discovered. If you drive another 6 kilometers, you can find the ancient fortress of Tsepina of the XI-XIII centuries. Another interesting settlement is located 28 kilometers away - the city of Batak. It attracts tourists with the oldest church in Bulgaria.

In the vicinity of Velingrad there is a large number of sports complexes and ski resorts. The most popular are the mountain resort Yundola, located 16 kilometers to the west, Kurtovo, Belmeken, Rakitovo and Syutka.

For lovers of fishing and eco-tourism, a wide variety of places, routes and excursions are offered.

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Velingrad is located in one of the most picturesque regions of the Rhodope Mountains - the Chepinsky hollow in the valley of the Yadenitsa river, 8 km from the karst spring and Lake Kleptuza. Despite the fact that the healing springs of Velingrad have been known since the time of the Thracian settlements, this is one of the youngest cities in Bulgaria, founded in 1948 after the merger of three villages - Lzhene, Kamenitsa and Chepino.
According to the characteristics of the microclimate, Velingrad is one of the best climatic resorts in the country. It is located in an intermountain basin at an altitude of 750-850 m above sea level, the mountains surrounding the resort are covered with dense, mostly pine forest. By the variety and abundance of mineral waters (over 70 sources), Velingrad is an analogue of the Caucasian resort - Pyatigorsk. Here, as well as in Pyatigorsk, sulfide, radon waters, water for drinking treatment. All thermal waters (from 22 to 96°C), are characterized by low mineralization, alkaline reaction, contain silicon and fluorine.
Indications for treatment in Velingrad: diseases of the respiratory system, digestive organs, metabolism, gallstone and urolithiasis, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, gynecological diseases.
Mineral water spring Chepino, which is supplied to Velingrad for health and rehabilitation programs through its own water supply network, refers to thermal, low-mineralized (total mineralization 231 g / l) with an alkaline reaction. By chemical composition water is characterized as bicarbonate-sodium-silicon-fluorine-sulfate with a high content of potassium and calcium. A distinctive feature of the mineral water of the Chepino spring is the content of fluorine and silicon ions, as well as radon (according to radiological indicators, it belongs to mineral waters with a low concentration of radon, radioactivity is 68 heman/l).
Siliceous waters, according to Japanese gerontologists, are the most powerful geroprotector. Reducing the amount of silicon entering the body from drinking water leading to atherosclerosis. Silicon maintains youthfulness and elasticity of the skin, the elasticity of blood vessels, restores the immune defense of the skin, has great importance in the process of growth and formation of the skin and its appendages, bones, cartilage and connective tissue. Silicon prevents the deposition of lipids, normalizes the permeability of the walls of blood vessels and ensures their elasticity.

Velingrad is one of the most famous Bulgarian resorts, which appeared relatively recently, but already has a lot of fans. The city of Velingrad is located 130 km from Sofia, in the northwestern Rhodopes. It occupies a very advantageous location, as it is surrounded on all sides by high mountains. Due to this localization, there are almost no strong winds in Velingrad. And if you consider that there are more than 2000 sundial, That climatic conditions one can only envy the people of Velingrad.

The city itself appeared not so long ago, it was created in 1948 on the basis of three local villages. From the very first day of its foundation, Velingrad was positioned as a resort town and balneological sanatorium.

One of the main advantages of holidays in Velingrad is its luxurious nature and Fresh air. The city is surrounded by virgin mountain forests, lakes and rivers, which are chosen by tourists who adhere to an active lifestyle, hunting and fishing. A local natural attraction is the unusually beautiful lake of karst origin Kleptuza. Thanks to the warm and mild climate, lovers of green tourism can visit Velingrad almost all year round.

Velingrad gained fame as a balneological resort thanks to the many sources of thermal and mineral waters that are located in the city. Today, 6 large balneological clinics operate here, specializing in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. That is why people most often go to Velingrad for the reason that here you can not only have a great rest, but also improve your health.

Those who love cultural programs will not be bored in Velingrad either. The city has many cafes, shopping centers, a cinema and a historical museum. In the vicinity of Velingrad are the ruins of ancient villages.

Thus, rest in Velingrad is a benefit both for the body and for the soul. Crystal clear mountain air, landscapes that can be admired endlessly, and healing waters make this place truly unique.

Briefly about the resort

Velingrad Map

When to go?

Velingrad is located in the center of the Chepinskaya valley surrounded by the mountain peaks of the Western Rhodopes, therefore it has a pronounced mountain climate. Summers in Velingrad are short and rather cold, and winters are mild, snowy and long - snow lies in the city and its environs for as many as 150 days a year. At the same time, it is one of the most cloudless and windless mountainous cities in Bulgaria. For Velingrad, sunny days with clear skies are typical, and it is cloudy here only during winter months. Most of spring and early summer are the rainiest times of the year in Velingrad. Autumn in Velingrad is extremely dry, as well as winter.

This region is a favorite place mainly among Bulgarians who come to Velingrad during all months for holidays and weekends. The influx of Bulgarian residents in Velingrad is observed only during new year holidays, as well as during the holiday season in August. But foreign tourists travel to Velingrad most of all in the warm season from June to September inclusive. Every year the number of tourists arriving at the resort increases by about 10% compared to the previous year. So, during 2015, Velingrad hotels hosted about 165,000 vacationers, of which about 55,000 were foreigners.

Spring in Velingrad

Spring in Velingrad is the rainiest time of the year. The amount of precipitation increases every day of spring and reaches its maximum in May, after which it begins to gradually decrease. Snow in Velingrad in spring is a common occurrence. Even in April there are up to two days with snow, and in March their number reaches eight per month. The total number of days with precipitation in spring can reach twenty-two per month. It is because of the rainy weather in spring that Velingrad receives the least number of tourists.

The average daytime temperature in spring is only 10°C in March and rises to a comfortable 20°C only in May. Maximum air in Velingrad warms up only to +27°C on some sunny days in May. At night, it is quite cold in this climatic resort - the average temperature at night is kept within 2-11 ° C, but there are frosts here until mid-April.

Holidays in March

March in Velingrad is cold, but still rather dry. During this month there are up to eight days with snow and over thirteen cloudy days. The total rainfall in Velingrad in March is 86 millimeters on average. In March, the average daytime temperature is usually 10°C and can warm up to its maximum of +19°C on sunny days. During March, at night in Velingrad, the thermometer shows 2°C of heat, but nighttime cooling is also possible, when the temperature drops to -5°C of frost.

Vacation in April

In April, there are up to two days of snowfall in Velingrad, and the number of rainy days increases significantly compared to the previous month. There are usually up to twenty days of rain in April, resulting in about 123 millimeters of rainfall. In April, there are up to twelve cloudy days per month, and the rest of the time the sun shines over the city. The average air temperature during the day is usually +15°C, on some days during the month it reaches +22°C. The average temperature at night in Velingrad is +6°С, but it can drop down to zero degrees.

Holidays in May

May in Velingrad is quite warm, but the rainiest month of the year. There are still up to twelve overcast days with thick clouds per month, and the number of rainy days reaches twenty-two per month. The total amount of precipitation falling here in May averages as much as 174 millimeters. During May, the average daytime temperature is +20°C. Sometimes, due to the influx of warm air from subtropical latitudes, daytime temperatures can reach +27°C. At night in Velingrad, on average, it is 11°С of heat, sometimes nighttime cooling down to +5°С is possible.

Summer in Velingrad

Summer in Velingrad is a rather rainy season, especially in June, when the number of days with precipitation reaches twenty per month. But August is already the driest summer month - the total amount of precipitation in August averages only 92 millimeters. The average summer temperature in Velingrad gradually rises from +23°C in June to +26°C in August during the day. Summer nights also gradually warm up from 15°C in June to 17°C at night in July and August. Maximum air in Velingrad during the summer warms up to + 32 ° C heat.

Foreign tourists come to Velingrad in the summer both for treatment from other countries and as part of excursion tours from the seaside resorts of Bulgaria. Residents of Bulgaria go to Velingrad mainly for weekends (for two days) and only during the holidays (in July and August) do they start staying in hotels in Velingrad for a longer time. The peak of resort attendance falls on the summer month of August.

Vacation in June

During June, Velingrad has warm, but still spring-like, rainy weather. The total rainfall in Velingrad in June reaches 148 millimeters, and the number of rainy days reaches twenty per month. But there are only about seven cloudy days with dense clouds per month, and the rest of the time the sun shines at the resort. The average air temperature during the day is +23°C warming up on clear days to a maximum of +30°C heat. Closer to the night, the average temperature is +15°C and no longer drops below 9°C.

Vacation in July

In July, the amount of precipitation drops to 103 millimeters, and there are up to five cloudy days in the resort per month. The average daytime air temperature during July is +25°C, and on fine days the temperature can reach +32°C. The average night temperature in Velingrad stays at +17°C, but more serious temperature drops are possible here - on some nights, the mark on the thermometer drops to +11°C.

Vacation in August

August in Velingrad is the warmest and driest month of the summer. That is why this month the most tourists come to the resort for rest and treatment with mineral waters. In August, there are usually no more than five cloudy days with thick clouds, on other days the bright sun shines here. The total precipitation in Velingrad in August is only 92 millimeters on average. During the day, the average temperature is +26°C, but occasionally reaches up to 32°C heat. The average night temperature in Velingrad is +17°C. Stay at the resort at night or more low temperatures when the mark on the thermometer drops down to + 12 ° C heat.

Autumn in Velingrad

Autumn in Velingrad is an extremely dry season, but the temperature in the resort begins to drop rapidly with every day of autumn. If in September the average daytime temperature is still 22°C, by November it drops to +13°C. At night in autumn it is already cold in the resort, but the first night frosts are usually observed only in November. Cloudy days in autumn in Velingrad usually happen every third day. But there is not much rain at this time. The first snow in Velingrad usually falls already in October, and in November the number of days with snowfall reaches three or four per month.

Vacation in September

In Velingrad, September is characterized by relatively sunny, warm and dry weather. At this time, the number of cloudy days reaches only eight per month, and precipitation averages about 91 millimeters. The average air temperature in Velingrad is +22°C. On clear days, under the influence of warm cyclones, the air in the resort can warm up to +28°C. Nights in Velingrad average 13°C, but there are also lower temperatures in this month, when the mark on the thermometer drops down to +7°C.

Vacation in October

Throughout October, in Velingrad, the temperature during the day on average stays at around + 18 ° C, sometimes rising up to + 26 ° C. The average temperature at night is +9°C, falling to one degree on some nights. There are more than 11 cloudy days with dense clouds per month, and the rest of the time the sun shines. The total amount of precipitation falling in Velingrad in October reaches 71 millimeters. On average, up to 12 days with precipitation are observed at the resort in October, and sometimes even the first snow falls by the end of the month.

Holidays in November

November in Velingrad is already quite a cold month. The average air temperature in Velingrad is kept at around +13°C, only occasionally warming up to +21°C. At night, frosts down to -3°C are not uncommon in the resort. The number of cloudy days rises to twelve per month, but the amount of precipitation in November is not high - the amount of precipitation in November is 52 millimeters, including in the form of snow (there are already three to four days with snowfall in a month).

Winter in Velingrad

Winter in Velingrad is the least rainy season, which does not negate heavy snowfalls and deep snowdrifts on the streets of the city throughout the winter. In winter, Velingrad usually has about seven to eight days of snowfall per month, and the number of cloudy days reaches fourteen per month. The temperature during the daytime in winter averages only 7°C, but can rise up to +14°C on some sunny days.

During the New Year holidays, the resort is experiencing another tourist boom. On New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve, you can meet almost as many vacationers here as in August. Most of the holidaymakers in the resort are residents of Bulgaria, but there are few foreign tourists in Velingrad in winter.

Vacation in December

There are up to fourteen cloudy days in December, including about seven days with snowfalls. The average air temperature in December is +7°C. Occasionally, due to the influx of warm air from low latitudes, the air in Velingrad can warm up to +14°C. The average temperature at night in Velingrad is 0°C. Colder nights are also observed here for a month, when the mark on the thermometer drops down to -9 ° C below zero.

Vacation in January

January in Velingrad is the coldest and driest month of the year. At this time, the average air temperature is +6°C warm during the day and -1°C cold at night. There are rare warmings up to 13°C during the day in January. At night, the thermometer can drop to -10°C below zero. There are about 14 cloudy days in December per month, and the rest of the time the sun is shining and there is slight cloudiness. The number of days with snowfall in January is usually seven to eight per month. The total amount of precipitation falling in Velingrad is only 49 millimeters.

Vacation in February

During February, the most snow falls in Velingrad during the winter, and for about half of the month there are cloudy days in the resort. The number of days with snowfall reaches nine in this short month, and total number precipitation in February is 56 millimeters. The average air temperature during the day during February is 6°C, on fine days reaching the maximum for this month +14°C. At night in Velingrad, on average, it is -1°C cold, but frosts down to -9°C occur in February.

Number of tourists by month

Where to rest?

In Velingrad and its surroundings there are more than 60 hotel establishments of various stars, which provide accommodation and accommodation in rooms and apartments. Many hotels in Velingrad are equipped with medical balneological centers or simply good spa complexes, where guests are provided with a wide range of medical and rehabilitation procedures. There are also hotels in Velingrad that offer only accommodation and meals at an affordable price.

Five-star hotels in Velingrad are represented by several hotel establishments. Five-star hotels "Grand Hotel Velingrad" and "Aquatonik Balneo Complex & Spa" have serious medical centers and provide their guests with not only SPA procedures, but also professional treatment. Maxi Park Hotel & Spa 5 * and Saint Spas Balneo Complex 5 * have well-equipped spa centers where you can order a wide range of cosmetic and anti-aging treatments. The five-star hotel "Vuchev Villa" can count on a heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and massage services.

The four-star hotel segment in Velingrad is represented by thirteen hotel establishments and hotel complexes. The best four-star hotels in Velingrad are considered to be such specialized medical institutions as Bor Spa Club, Royal Spa Hotel”, “Rich Spa Hotel” and “Zdravets Spa Hotel”. All of them have medical centers and offer balneological healing procedures. There are good spa centers in four-star hotels in Velingrad such as Velina Spa Hotel, Olymp Park Hotel & Spa, Lucky Light Boutique & Spa, Kleptuza Spa Hotel and Holiday Spa Hotel.

More than twenty three-star hotels are located in Velingrad, including such specialized hotels as Elbrus Spa Hotel and Aura Hotel, equipped with good rehabilitation and treatment centers. Good spa centers have such inexpensive three-star hotels as Enira Spa Hotel, Aqua Viva Spa Hotel, Velingrad Balneohotel, Kamena Balneocomplex, Alegra Spa Hotel, Heaven Boutique & Spa Hotel and Rim Hotel.

What to see?

Velingrad is the most famous balneological resort in Bulgaria, so many attractions in the city are somehow connected with healing mineral waters.

There are five mineral baths in Velingrad, whose history goes back to ancient times: Mud bath, Sulfur bath, Radon bath, Women's bath, Velova bath and Silicon bath. All baths are still active, offering mineral baths and procedures to those who wish to improve their health. In addition to mineral baths, Velingrad has three mineral beaches with large pools filled with healing mineral water: "Central", "Terma" and "Kaferinova". Two more mineral beaches are located in the vicinity of Velingrad: Kostandovo beach near the town of the same name and Amos beach at the entrance to the village of Draginovo.

Museums in Velingrad itself are poorly represented - only by the Vela Peev Historical Museum, which has archaeological, ethnographic and art departments, as well as departments dedicated to the history of the Renaissance, modern and recent history Bulgaria. Art connoisseurs will be interested in visiting the Tsveta Shumanova Art Gallery located in the city, which has two exhibition halls with graphics, paintings and sculptures by famous Bulgarian masters. We also recommend visiting museums located in the vicinity of Velingrad, such as: the Pliocene Park in Dorkovo, Balinov's House, Sharov's House and the Historical Museum in Batak, the Historical Museum in the Cave, the Historical Museum in the village of Bratsigovo, the hospital of Viscountess Strangford in Radilovo and the park-museum of the Rhodope Cheshma in Dospat.

Velingrad and its environs are rich in Christian churches. In the city itself there is the Church of the Holy Mother of God, the Church of St. George and the Church of the Holy Trinity. Another six churches, four Christian churches and more than eighteen ancient chapels are located in the surrounding towns and villages: Bratsigiv, Cave, Kostandovo, Rakitovo, Dorkovo and Sveta Petka. Particular attention should be paid to the Church-ossuary "Holy Week" in the city of Batak, built in 1813 and is currently a museum.

The most popular among tourists and well-preserved fortress in the area is the ancient and medieval fortress "Peristera" with three rows of fortifications and six towers, built by the Romans somewhere in the second century AD. The ruins of the medieval fortress "Tsepina", located in close proximity to the modern village of Dorkovo, are also popular. Unfortunately, the fortress and the medieval city that it defended were not lucky - only the walls of the castle, one and a half meters high, remained from the once mighty stronghold.

A couple of kilometers from the town of Rakitovo is the Gradot fortress, which operated from ancient times until the Middle Ages. This fortress boasts well-preserved walls one and a half meters thick and up to six meters high, but the tower and the building of the fortress church are completely destroyed. Also, not far from the city of Batak, there are the ruins of the Thracian fortress "Tashboazskoye Kale", which was allegedly destroyed by the Turks during the conquest of Bulgaria. The conquerors approached the matter thoroughly, so little was left of the fortress.

Where to eat?

In Velingrad, most decent restaurants and other establishments where you can eat and drink are located at hotels, but there are very few stand-alone establishments with good cuisine in the city. This state of affairs is explained by the fact that Velingrad is a relatively small resort town (the population barely exceeds 22,000 inhabitants), and therefore most of the institutions are focused specifically on tourists who come to Velingrad for treatment all year round.

For the same reason, in Velingrad and its environs you will find over a dozen traditional Bulgarian "mehans" - restaurants made in the rural style typical of taverns in Bulgaria from the last century. Such restaurants are usually furnished with wooden furniture, and in the main hall with stone-paved floors, as a rule, there is a large fireplace and other colorful elements that tourists like so much. In the evenings, national Bulgarian music is played here with singing and dancing, as well as other entertainment events and shows in folklore style. The best establishments stylized as "mekhana" in Velingrad are: "Vesely Selo", "Rhodope Village", "Chinarite", "Kiselia" and "Velingrad", as well as taverns at the hotels Grand Hotel Velingrad 5 *, Maxi Park Hotel 5 *, Bor Spa Club 4* and Olymp Park Hotel 4*.

According to many tourists, the best classic restaurants in Velingrad are the restaurants "Tom & Nezi Classic" and "Paradise" located close to each other, located at the foot of the Grand Hotel Velingrad 5 * and Olymp Park Hotel 4 *. A good institution is also considered the restaurant "Millenium" located on the boulevard of the Connection, just opposite the Central Mineral Beach. Despite its unprepossessing appearance, this restaurant offers fast service and a gourmet menu with delicious meals at an affordable price.

Most of the nightlife in Velingrad is also attached to hotels and is located directly in the hotel buildings. The best nightclubs and drinking establishments in Velingrad are: "Central Club & Bar", "Louise Piano Bar", "Brio Moda Bar & Diner", "Rich Night Bar", as well as a country night club"Illusion Club" located at the entrance to the village of Draginovo and the night club "Arapov Night Club" in the same village.

How to get there?

The climatic resort of Velingrad is located 134 kilometers from Sofia and only 82 kilometers from Plovdiv. The main part of foreign tourists going for treatment with mineral waters get to Velingrad from international airport Sofia or Plovdiv. But the inhabitants of Bulgaria prefer to go to Velingrad by bus or by their own vehicles, since transport in Bulgaria is the cheapest way to move around the country.

If you plan to get to Velingrad from the airports in Bulgaria, then it will be faster and more convenient to order a taxi transfer right at the airport. From Sofia Airport, the road to Velingrad by car (up to 4 passengers) will cost about €80, and a minivan transfer (8-15 passengers) from €150 for one way. A taxi ride from Sofia Airport to Velingrad will take up to two hours.

From the international airport in Plovdiv, respectively, you can get there for 40 € by car and about 100 € by minivan, and the journey will take about an hour and a half. The cheapest way to get to Velingrad is on regular bus routes. The longest, but full of emotions, way is by train with a transfer to a narrow-gauge railway in Septemvri.

By bus

There is a small bus station in Velingrad, which is connected by regular bus service to major cities Bulgaria as: Sofia, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, as well as the small town of Gotse Delchev and the ski resort of Bansko. In addition, Velingrad is connected by bus to other cities in the Pazardzhik region: the regional center of Pazardzhik, the city of Septemvri and the village of Yundola.

From Sofia, you can get to Velingrad by bus from the southern bus station "Darvenitsa", which is located under the bridge of Dragan Tsankov Boulevard, not far from the metro station "Jolio Curie". From this small bus station, at least three bus lines leave for Velingrad daily, and in summer season their number reaches ten per day. The bus journey from Sofia to Velingrad takes only two hours, and the average ticket price for an adult passenger is only 15 Bulgarian leva.

Buses from Plovdiv to Velingrad run daily from the southern bus station through regional center Pazardzhik. The number of bus trips to Velingrad depends on the season and reaches eight per day. The bus journey from Plovdiv to Velingrad takes just under two hours, and the price of a bus ticket is on average 14 Bulgarian leva per adult.

By train

There are two railway stations in Velingrad, which serve trains moving on the narrow gauge railway Dobrinishte - Velingrad - Bansko - Septemvri. Since there are no standard width railway lines in Velingrad, there are no direct trains from Sofia and Plovdiv to Velingrad. If you want to get to Velingrad by train, then you first have to get to the small Bulgarian town of Septemvri, and then transfer to the next train to Velingrad on the narrow gauge railway.

From Septemvri railway station, a narrow-gauge train runs four times a day: at 08:25, 13:34, 16:50 and 02:05 at night. In the opposite direction from Velingrad, he departs according to the following schedule: at 04:40, 08:32, 13:38 and 17:11 in the evening. Travel time averages three and a half hours. Despite the fact that a trip to Velingrad by train will take on average twice as long as by bus, you are unlikely to be bored on the road. Along the way, you will see the most picturesque places in Bulgaria: you will meet many mountain tunnels and rivers, cleanest lakes, picturesque alpine meadows and beautiful mountain slopes covered with virgin forests.

You can get to the city of Septemvri by train from Sofia Central Station. Trains passing through Septemvri depart from this railway station at least fifteen times a day, and the journey will take less than two hours. From the railway station in Plovdiv towards Septemvri also runs up to 16 trains daily. Travel time by train from Plovdiv will take just over an hour.

Velingrad is one of the medical resorts in Bulgaria, which is located in the Chepino lowland between the Rila and Rhodope mountains. The distance between Velingrad and Sofia is 133 kilometres. To get from here to Plovdiv, you will have to overcome 85 km, and to Pazardzhik - only 49 km. Not far from Velingrad is the village of Yundola - perfect place for recreation, and another well-known resort in Bulgaria is located 150 kilometers from Velingrad.

There are many such pools with healing water in local balneological sanatoriums and spa centers. They are equipped directly at the source, in the open air, surrounded by wildlife.

One of the Velingrad spa centers. Vacationers come here from different parts of Bulgaria, as well as from other countries, to experience the amazing healing properties thermal water sources.

During the warm summer months, the outdoor thermal pools are very popular. It is very pleasant to relax, recover or just admire nature here.

Right on the mountainside, surrounded by centuries-old forests, there is one of health centers Velingrad - a modern and comfortable SPA-hotel "Olimp".

In summer, it is especially pleasant to relax on the picturesque banks of Kleptuza. Here you can take a walk in the forest, sit in small cafes on the water or ride catamarans to your heart's content.

The amazingly beautiful mountain lake, which occupies a large part of the Chepinskaya Valley, arose from an ancient karst source. Today it is called the symbol of Velingrad.

Quite old buildings have been preserved on the streets of Velingrad. The city has a history museum, several art galleries, and many sports grounds.

The architecture of the beautiful Velingrad Grand Hotel harmonizes wonderfully with the surrounding mountain landscape. Around the hotel, centuries-old fir trees stand like a wall.

The Velingrad municipality of Bulgaria is the country's richest region in terms of mineral waters - there are about 80 springs here, which provide 170 liters of water every second. All sources are divided into four groups - Lyzhene, Chepino, Draginovo and Kamenitsa. Each group has its own distinctive features. If we consider thermal waters from north to south, then in their composition there is a gradual increase not only in temperature, but also in the amount of salts, as well as sulfates. Accordingly, the content of silicon, fluorine and sodium also increases.

With the help of Velingrad waters, many ailments can be cured.

There are seven balneological clinics in Velingrad, where mineral waters are used for a beneficial effect on people's health. In the course of numerous studies, positive results were obtained in the treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, the musculoskeletal system, urological, gynecological, respiratory, gastrointestinal and other diseases.

Velingrad thermal zones are much more powerful than other similar springs. There are both mineral waters with a high content of nitrogen or sodium, and saturated with anions or fluorine.

The young Bulgarian resort of Velingrad is located in a river valley between the Rhodope and Rila mountains. Until 1948, the city did not exist at all - in its place there were three small villages.

This amazing building made of stone blocks is a kind of entertainment center near the mineral thermal spring. There is also a cafe, and a water slide, and a huge pool.

This beautiful lake is called Kleptuza. This amazing symbol of the resort city of Velingrad owes its origin to a karst spring that spouted from the ground.

Velingrad is considered one of the most effective balneological resorts in Bulgaria, since its water thermal springs except for the rich mineral composition enriched with radon.

A very comfortable climate has formed in the area of ​​the Chepino Valley, where the resort town of Velingrad is located. Winters here are very mild, summers are not hot, pleasant, and almost always the sun shines.

Mineral springs that have turned the town of Velingrad into a famous balneological resort. They are also popular in winter, because the winters here are very pleasant, continental.

In summer, the Chepinsky Valley is covered with luxurious emerald greenery. Archaeologists have discovered mounds in this area, which testify to the presence of Thracian settlements.

Panorama of Velingrad. Surrounding the city are the Rhodope and Rila mountain ranges protect it from winds and cold air, so the climate here is quite suitable for a resort.

The largest geyser is located in the Chepinsky quarter - almost 70 liters of water come from it every second. But the most hot water comes out of the ground in the Kamenitsa quarter - its temperature is 91 degrees Celsius. The local springs are also rich in tungsten, strontium, antimon and gallium.

Things to do around Velingrad

Belmeken reservoir is located 30 kilometers from the city, which is of interest to fishing enthusiasts. And it is worth driving a few more kilometers to the west - and you can find yourself in the sports complex. All conditions for sports are created here. In addition, the village of Yundola has its own hunting ground, where many species of wild animals are found.

Among the local attractions, one should not forget the remains of the medieval fortress Tsepino, which can be seen six kilometers from Velingrad. And the remains of even more ancient fortress walls are located near another Bulgarian resort, which is called .

Helpful information for tourists about Velingrad in Bulgaria - geographical position, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Velingrad is a city near the western extension of the Chepinskaya basin, in the northwest of the Rhodopes and in the south of the Pazardzhik region. It occupies the valley of the Yadenitsa River. The town is surrounded by mountains on all sides. It is the administrative center of the community of the same name and the second largest city in this part of the country. Distance from the capital - 135 km. In addition, almost 20 km from Velingrad is the Yundola ski resort.

In the 5th and 6th centuries, settlements of the Thracian tribes were located here, which were replaced by the Slavs, and then the ancient Bulgarians. This resort in Bulgaria is among the youngest, since its foundation was marked by the unification of three villages in 1948.

Velingrad is an excellent place for various types of treatment due to the abundance of healing springs and the alpine climate. The summer here is quite cool and short, but the winter period is characterized by a mild climate and high snow cover. In view of the fact that Velingrad is surrounded by mountains, windy weather is unfamiliar to vacationers here, here you can feel only warm breaths, nicknamed the “white wind” and night coolness.

The main wealth of this resort, along with clean mountain air, is 56 thermal mineral springs, the water temperature in which ranges from 22 to 96ºС. At the moment, 6 thermal mineral deposits: Chepino, Ldzhene 1, Ldzhene 2, Kamenitsa, Draginovo, Varvarsky baths. Mineral waters are slightly mineralized, hydrocarbonate-sulfate and contain sodium, potassium, calcium, silicon, fluorine and other microelements. Chepino waters with a low content of radon, fluorine and silicon.

Medical indications for the treatment of: diseases of the respiratory system, digestive organs, metabolism, gynecological diseases, cholelithiasis and urolithiasis, functional disorders of the nervous system, rehabilitation after severe diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

There are 6 large balneological clinics operating on the waters of the springs: Women's bath, Velova bath (built in 1640), Kremchna bath, Radon bath, Kalna (mud) bath, Syarna (hydrogen sulfide) bath. Each of them is characterized by a special composition of water and specializes in the treatment of certain diseases. Each spring has thermal outdoor and indoor pools.

The resort city has a national rehabilitation center, private clinics, sanatoriums and hotels, hosting annually up to 300 thousand people.

In addition to treatment, there are many leisure options in Velingrad: cafes and restaurants, bars, swimming pools, a fitness room and tennis courts. For those looking for more quiet or contemplative entertainment, the city has cinema and concert halls, an art gallery, several libraries and, of course, the Historical Museum.