The hot mineral spring in Gorna Banya is mentioned in the travel notes of Evliya Çelebi back in 1652: „In this water, a sheep’s head and trotters simmer and eggs can be boiled as well.“ Before the current building was erected in 1927, an old Turkish bath had existed in its place for a long time.
A new building was necessary, due to the extensive demand for the mineral water of Gorna Banya. The construction went on for 5 years. Soon after the bath’s construction, the area around it witnessed the popping up of many other – larger – buildings, mainly living quarters like hotels, villas and other residences. The area quickly transformed into a small settlement, which gradually turned into the resort center of Gorna Banya.
There is a legend about the quality of the mineral water in Gorna Banya. Supposedly, during World War II, German Army General Rommel used tons of the Gorna Banya mineral water for the needs of the German Army. Huge amounts of this water have been found later, stored in the sands of North Africa, with unchanged taste and chemical composition.
Nowadays, the building of the bath is out of use. It is locked and the windows and entrances are shut with nails. The present and future of the bath, as well as its construction decades ago, are in the hands of the people – the government and the citizens.
hello whats the address of this buililding would love to see
thanks a lot for these photos and informations.. but why are most public thermal baths in Sofia / Bulgaria in such bad condition.. ??
It’s a little complicated. For years we lived in a communist regime, then in the post-communist period and throughout mainly the institutions and society have not seen these buildings as particularly valuable. The reason is that the buildings are made in the period 1910 – 1930, which period has been deliberately historically suppressed by the communists. This is the most intense period of progress for our country – economic, cultural, educational and others.