Southwestern Bulgaria
The town of Bansko (9134 inhabitants; 925 m above sea level) is situated by the Glazne River (the right tributary of Mesta) at the north-eastern foothills of Pirin beneath the highest and most beautiful karst part of the mountain.
Introduction & History
Its name is related with the ancient Bulgarian word ban (from boean, boyan) which means master. It is 160 km south of Sofia, 60 km south-east of Blagoevgrad, 6 km south of Razlog and 51 km north of Gotse Delchev. Bansko is the entrance to the most beautiful Bulgarian Mountain – Pirin and one of the biggest winter resorts in the country. If one add to this its architectural and historical value, Bansko is a pearl in the Bulgarian necklace.
History The town rose up on its present location around 9th-10th centuries after the formation of the adjacent quarters of Bansko. In the middle of 18th century Bansko was a big and rich settlement developing crafts and trade. The caravans of Bansko traders travelled to the Aegean to Middle Europe transporting tobacco, poppy seeds form Serr, cotton, processed skins, precious goods, gold. Bansko lived its Golden Age in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century when it reached economic and cultural boom - the Bansko School of Art was established. The representatives of this school introduced lots of secular and historical themes in art. Monastery schools and a mutual school were opened. However, the Napoleon’s Wars against Austria and the opening of the waterway along the Danube River put an end to its growth. In the middle of 19th century the economy of the town suffered decay. According to the resolutions of the Berlin Treaty Bansko was left within the boundaries of the Turkish Empire and its inhabitants actively participated in the consequent rebellions - Kresna-Razlog Uprising (1878-1879) and the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising (1903). The town was liberated from the Turkish rule on 5th October 1912 (the Balkan War). Bansko is the native place of the titans of Bulgarian Revival Paisii Hilendarski and Neofit Rilski.
