There is a lot of beauty in Bulgaria!
I have visited places so wondrous, so charming, so beautiful that I have wept with happiness and joy!
In addition, our wonderful country is among the countries richest in mineral waters in the world. Over 90% of our springs are suitable for the treatment and prevention of hundreds of diseases.
So - country - miracle! Nature - true magnificence! Healing mineral waters - a gift from God!
One of these places, combining charm, beauty and health, is definitely Dobrinishte!
Dobrinishte is a small, but very, very beautiful town!
It is located at the foot of Pirin, only 8 kilometers (about ten minutes by car) west of the city of Bansko.
The village is a starting point for dizzying mountain tourism, an unforgettable spa holiday, a wonderful ski vacation, and a wonderful chair lift has been built next to the "Gotse Delchev" and "Bezbog" huts for all travelers.
Warm healing mineral springs, pristine forests, clear lakes, noisy waterfalls - the beauties of this magical Pirin paradise are countless.
Even at this moment, when I close my eyes, the golden cubes of "St. St. Peter and Paul" float in my mind, shining in the morning summer sun, against the background of the rocky teeth of the majestic mountain - a sight that deeply touched my Bulgarian soul and sealed it with love to this mountain and this beautiful region!
The surrounding hills of the Rhodope Mountains in the west, as well as the high ridges of Rila in the north, bring no less charm.
The altitude here is 850 meters.
The first settlers of these lands saw only good things in this area and thus exclaimed:
Good things! Good things!
...and the name of the settlement appeared - Dobrinishte.
There are four hamlets in Dobrinishte - "Belio Rid", occupying the northeastern part of the city, "Vabelo" - the center and northwestern part, "Bunare", located in the southwest and "Shebelitsa", occupying the southeastern part.
History
In the central northern part of the city there are remains of an early Neolithic settlement, which occupied an area of about seven acres near the right bank of the Valyavitsa River, not far from the mineral spring. Foundations of dwellings, tools, ceramics, anthropomorphic figures were discovered during excavations.
The finds are dated to the end of the first half of the sixth millennium BC.
Culturally, the Neolithic settlement in Dobrinishte refers to the southwestern variant of the Karanovo I culture, which is also represented in the settlements in Rakitovo, Eleshnitsa, Kovachevo and Belitsa.
With its mineral waters and geographical location, Dobrinishte created wonderful living conditions many years before the Thracians appeared on these lands. Thracian and Roman ceramics were found in the settlement and the area around it. Ruins of a Thracian settlement can be seen in the Domatarsko area, and in the Gumnishta area (where there was an ancient settlement) coins from the time of the Roman emperor Nero (1st century) were found.
There are mineral springs near the Dobrinishtka river and ancient pools were discovered right there, one of which is the Rimsko banche, discovered in March 1966. The Rimsko banche is a circle with a diameter of about two meters, built of stone seats on the bottom, and its walls are made of stone joined with mortar.
In two of the pools, the construction at the base is Roman, and at the top, Ottoman.
In the 7th century, the local Thracian population in the region of today's Dobrinishte gradually began to mix with the Slavic tribe of the Smolyans, who were invading at that time, who permanently settled along the course of the Mesta River and mainly in Razlozhko. Not long after, the proto-Bulgarians were added to this population, in order to lay the foundations of the Bulgarian nation.
The village is mentioned in Ottoman sources from 1605 as Dobruštene. According to Academician Ivan Duridanov, the etymology of the name Dobrinishta is from the initial patronymic of - isti from the personal name Dobrin.
During the early years of the Ottoman rule, the population of Dobrinishte left their homes and sought salvation in the Pirin Mountains, settling in the former Thracian settlements. An insignificant part of the Bulgarians remain in the village in the area of the Church of the Holy Virgin, further from the bathhouse and the mineral springs. Thus, Dobrinishte disappeared and for more than a century its name was not mentioned anywhere. Only at the end of the 15th century, during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II (1481 - 1512), its name appears in an Ottoman document as a settlement that refers to the Nevrokop Nahiya.
During the Renaissance, the Bulgarian population in Dobrinishte began to grow again. Gradually, those living in the mountain hamlets began to return to the village.
At the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, Dobrinishte grew economically and developed successful trade with countries such as Serbia, Austria, France and Spain.
According to legends, in the period from the 7th century to the 16th century, Dobrinishte was a settlement-fortress that stopped the attempts of the Byzantine emperors to cross the Mesta River in the direction of the interior of Bulgaria.
In 1846, the inhabitants built a school, organized Chetnik squads, actively participated in the national liberation struggles of the Bulgarian people.
Dobrinishta, a village south of Mechomia 3 hours. It is located in a valley, which ends at the 3rd Razlog level. The surrounding area is wooded, rich in pine and beech. Below Dobrinishta rises the highest peak of Pirin, and the Arami Bunar branch runs to the east. The peasants are mostly engaged in animal husbandry; they also go abroad. In the village there is a church and next to it a school attended by 75 students, with 1 teacher. About 300 houses, 1/3 Pomacs and 2/3 Bulgarians. On the eastern side of Dobrinishta are the healing mineral waters. These waters are smaller in quantity than the waters in Banya.
Georgi Strezov, 1891
In 1896, a revolutionary committee of VMORO was established in Dobrinishte under the leadership of Gotse Delchev. Between 1928 and 1934, Dobrinishte was managed by VMRO, when the church, school and community center were built.
At the outbreak of the Balkan War in 1912, 35 people from Dobrinishta volunteered in the Macedonian-Odrina militia.
Until January 4, 1966, the name of the settlement was Dobrinishta.
In October 2006, by decision of the Council of Ministers, Dobrinishte was declared a city.
The 17 warm healing mineral springs
Dear friends, here we come to what is probably the greatest gift of God in Dobrinishte - its 17 hot healing mineral springs.
The thermal deposit of Dobrinishte is located east of the city in the valley of the Dobrinishte river. The thermal zone is a narrow strip about 1.2 kilometers long. It is in this locality that 17 warm healing mineral springs gush forth.
The mineral water from the springs of Dobrinishte has low mineralization, is odorless and has a pleasant drinking taste.
The temperature of the living water springing from the warm mineral springs of the city ranges from 30 degrees Celsius to 43 degrees Celsius, and its total flow rate is about 18 liters per second.
The water gushing from the warm mineral springs of Dobrinishte is of excellent quality and is suitable for drinking balneotherapy, external balneotherapy, as well as for sports and health purposes.
Detailed chemical composition*, characteristics, indications and method of treatment of the living water gushing from the springs of the town of Dobrinishte:
Water temperature: between 30°C and 43°C
pH: 8.96
Kluf classification: very soft
Poorly mineralized
Hydrocarbonate-sodium
Sulphate
Fluorine
Silicon
Detailed chemical composition:
Anions:
Fluorine ions: 6.05 mg/l
Chlorine ions: 6.03 mg/l
Sulfate ions: 40.33 mg/l
Carbonate ions: 24.00 mg/l
Hydrogen carbonate ions: 76.27 mg/l
Hydrogen silicate ions: 1.41 mg/l
Nitrate ions: < 1.00 mg/l
Nitrite ions: < 0.05 mg/l
Total: 154.08 mg/l
Cations:
Ammonium ions: < 0.05 mg/l
Lithium ions: 0.12 mg/l
Sodium ions: 60.92 mg/l
Potassium ions: 1.31 mg/l
Calcium ions: 2.30 mg/l
Magnesium ions < 0.12 mg/l
Iron ions: < 0.02 mg/l
Manganese ions: < 0.02 mg/l
Total: 64.66 mg/l
Total mineralization: 287 mg/l
*Test protocol No. 409 of February 3, 2021 of the Specialized Laboratory for Analysis at NSBFTR EAD, Sofia
Attention! Drinking balneotherapy is applied in a certain individual dosage and under medical supervision!
Indications for drinking balneotherapy:
Chronic non-specific diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: chronic gastritis with hyper and nomarcidity, peptic ulcer disease during exacerbation, chronic colitis and enterocolitis, chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer without bleeding, chronic constipation
Diseases of the liver-biliary system: gallstone disease, sand in the gallbladder (cholelithiasis), inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), chronic hepatitis and consequences after treatment
Hepatobiliary disorders: cholangitis, cholecystitis and others
Metabolic endocrine diseases: diabetic polyneuropathy, gout, obesity and others
Diseases of the urinary system: nephrolithiasis (urate, oxalate), chronic inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis, pyelitis), urethritis, chronic inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) and others
Postoperative conditions
Chronic occupational intoxication: radionuclides, toxic substances in the pharmaceutical industry
Caries prevention
Osteoporosis
Application:
For peptic ulcer disease and chronic gastritis, drink one glass (200 grams) 1 to 2 hours before eating 2 to 3 times a day
In other cases, drink one glass (200 grams) every half hour
Inhalation treatment:
Inhalations for non-specific diseases of the upper (laryngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis) and lower respiratory tracts (chronic ringopharyngitis, bronchitis, asthma in an inactive period)
External balneotherapy:
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system - degenerative joint diseases, inflammatory joint diseases in remission, post-traumatic diseases of the joints, muscles and ligaments, post-fracture conditions, chronic joint rheumatism (rheumatic polyarthritis), chronic muscular rheumatism, diseases of the intervertebral joints (spondylitis), non-inflammatory joint diseases (arthrosis), consequences of bone fractures, injuries, contusions, consequences of muscle injury, difficult mobility and limitation of joint movement, inflammation of the surrounding joint bags (bursitis), inflammation of the tendon sheaths (tendovaginitis)
Chronic diseases of the peripheral nervous system - discopathy, disc disease, postoperative conditions in disc disease, radiculitis, plexitis, polyradiculoneuritis, neuralgia, sciatica, lumbago
Occupational diseases associated with damage to the joint-muscular system and the peripheral nervous system, after spinal cord injuries or past poliomyelitis
Diseases related to overstrain and stress - neuroses, initial hypertension, vegetative dystonia and others
Skin diseases - chronic non-specific dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, healing of skin and purulent wounds, bleeding and others
Gynecological diseases: chronic inflammations of the ovaries (adnexitis), chronic inflammations of the uterus, insufficiency and disorder in the functions of the ovaries, infertility
Gastrointestinal diseases
Liver-biliary diseases
Renal and urological diseases
Endocrine diseases
General prevention: strengthening and hardening of the body, after physical or mental overload, prevention against premature aging
Main biological effect of mineral water:
Enhancement of diuresis
Stimulates gastric secretion
Improves liver functions
Inhalations with water are effective for lung diseases
Treatment methods:
Drinking balneotherapy
External balneotherapy
Sports and health purposes
Attention!
Contraindications for drinking balneotherapy: the water should not be drunk up to six months after bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, with oncological diseases, with diseases in an acute stage, with HIBS - with rhythm disorders, with epilepsy.
Probably the most characteristic quality of mineral water from the miraculous springs of Dobrinishte is that the bicarbonate-sulphate water causes a so-called diluting secretion in the gastrointestinal tract, which causes one of the most popular effects in balneology – a peristaltic effect of overstretching the intestines , which leads to a cleansing effect. These waters stimulate the kinetics of the bile ducts, have an anti-inflammatory effect and influence the secretory function of the liver and bile, causing a choleretic and less halogen effect.
Sulfate waters affect the metabolism, in case of obesity through the cleansing effect, in case of diabetes by supporting the complete burning of carbohydrates and glycogen formation, improving purine metabolism. The presence of silicon has an astringent and antiseptic effect and is used in the treatment of skin diseases.
The silver spring
This is the name of the most famous spring in Dobrinishte.
I leave my car on the side of the road and walk down the path to the river.
In this place are the two captured springs, from which mineral waters rich in silver ions gush forth.
The Romans are said to have discovered them and used them to treat numerous wounds received during severe battles.
I also visited him and washed my eyes with water!
Its water contains a huge amount of silver ions, which have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the human body.
The water is odorless and leaves no residue.
Water temperature: between 30°C and 40°C
The silver spring has a beneficial effect on gastrointestinal diseases, neuralgia, skin and eye diseases.
The broken water does not flow, but the named system is blocked.
Long-term studies have been carried out, and it has been established that silver ions act on the enzyme used by pathogenic microorganisms and thus prevent their reproduction.
Perfect water destroys hundreds of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and microorganisms. Treats multiple infections and inflammations. It has a healing effect on gashes and during ice-healing recovery.
The spa of Dobrinishte
As you all understood, this God-kissed place, famous for its warm healing mineral springs, has been known since ancient times.
In 1963, the town of Dobrinishte was declared a spa resort.
The public mineral bath of the city, known as a spa, was built in 1934 according to the project of architect Barov. It is a white two-story building built in the middle of a majestic park with pleasant seating areas and a children's playground.
The mineral bath of Dobrinishte is among the most important places for the development of tourism in the town.
The spa building has two floors with separate men's and women's sections, as well as separate baths. On the second floor, there is a hairdressing and beauty salon, as well as a massage room. The premises are clean, bright and spacious.
The greatest value is the mineral water that flows directly from the spring with a temperature of 34 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees Celsius.
It is important to note that the water in the pools is changed twice a day.
The pools are deep and designed for immersion. They are entered after a preliminary shower in the designated area with showers and sinks.
Bathing suits are not allowed!
For the maximum effect of the healing power of the water, a stay of at least half an hour is recommended.
A public washing machine has been built behind the bathroom, which can be used free of charge.
Working hours of the Dobrinishte spa: without a day off from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Prices for using the Dobrinishte spa:
Adults: BGN 1.50.
Children: BGN 0.60.
Children up to 5 years of age use the services of the spa for free!
Children from 5 to 8 years: BGN 0.40.
Price for a bathtub: BGN 7.00 (for two)
Price for a sheet: BGN 1.00.
Mineral beach
One of the most popular places that attracts tourists from all over Bulgaria is the mineral beach of Dobrinishte with two open mineral pools, accessible to everyone.
How does the composition of mineral water affect the human body?
Hydrogen carbonate ions maintain the acid balance in the body.
Hydrogen carbonate ions and sodium ions help normalize bile secretion.
Chlorides increase the decreased secretion of bile juice and increase its acidity.
Sulfate and magnesium ions slightly irritate the mucous membrane of the bile and cause a laxative effect. This is very useful for the elderly and also for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. They are useful for the cardiovascular system.
Calcium ions are especially important for building teeth and bones.
Fluoride contributes to the strength of teeth and bones.
Metacremic acid has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and acts as an antioxidant.
The park of Dobrinishte
The park built around the spa is amazing - peaceful, green and so charming.
I was incredibly impressed and really pleasantly surprised by this lovely place, filled with lots of greenery and charm.
The lawns are green and well maintained. Flowers smile at me from every corner. Interesting statues are placed in the park which add romance to the place.
Numerous benches have been built, located under the shadows of the dozens of trees around.
The fountain in front of the spa brings an extra touch of freshness to the hot summer day.
Church "St. St. Peter and Paul"
I pass through the center of Dobrinishte, attracted by the bright reflections of the dome of the church "St. St. Peter and Paul", towering against the rocky crags of Pirin.
Its entrance is under renovation and the church is closed, so I don't have the opportunity to explore it and take panoramic photos.
In the churchyard rises a clock tower with a belfry, which I can photograph.
The temple was built as early as 1826, but it was burned down during the wars and then rebuilt again. It houses an exceptional creation - a Byzantine cross with lace carving from 1194.
How do you get to the city of Dobrinishte, municipality of Bansko, district of Blagoevgrad?
Dobrinishte is a town, spa and winter resort in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in Bansko municipality, Blagoevgrad district.
It is located in a mountainous area at 850 meters above sea level. in the most south-eastern corner of the Razlog valley between three mountains - Pirin, Rila and Rhodopes.
Dobrinishte is located very close to the city of Bansko - only 8 kilometers (about ten minutes by car).
Dobrinishte is the terminal railway station of the only currently functioning narrow gauge railway in Bulgaria, running on the Septemvri - Dobrinishte railway line, which was built in the 1930s and connects the city with Septemvri via Bansko, Razlog, Velingrad and Yakoruda.
Dobrinishte is 64 kilometers away from the regional town (about an hour by car).
The climate in the area is mountainous and allows the retention of the snow cover from December to April, and the alpine character of Pirin Mountain provides excellent conditions for professional and amateur skiing.
Dobrinishte stands at:
163 kilometers (about two hours by car) from the capital
150 kilometers (about 2 hours and 43 minutes by car) from the city of Plovdiv
512 kilometers (about 6 hours and 23 minutes by car) from the city of Varna
396 kilometers (about 4 hours and 30 minutes by car) from the city of Burgas
How do you get to the silver mineral spring of Dobrinishte?
The silver mineral spring is located about half a kilometer from the city in the direction of Gotse Delchev.
There is a wide turn off on the left side of the road itself where you can park your cars. Built stairs lead down to the spring itself.
Opposite the source are several charming falls of the Dobrinishtka river, which I photographed especially for you.
What can be visited nearby?
Only 8 kilometers west of the city of Dobrinishte (about 10 minutes by car) is the city of Bansko, where it is possible to:
to walk around the Old Town
to walk Gotse Delchev Street
to take a picture in front of the city's sundial
to look at the stone pages of the "Slavic Bulgarian History" unfolded around the monument of Paisius
to sit in the shade under the majestic crown of the ancient tree
to learn the history of Khachkar monument
to hear the bells of the bell tower of the Holy Trinity Church
to take a sip of fresh Pirin water from the numerous stone fountains of the Old Town
to visit together the temple "St. Venerable Paisius Hilendarsky"
to visit the house-museum "Neofit Rilski"
to walk the old narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town
to breathe in the aroma of the blooming roses in the courtyard of the Velyanova house
take a look at the museum complex "Nikola Vaptsarov"
to honor Vaptsarov's poems in front of his monument and on the square bearing his name
to visit the poet's native house
to see the accurately recreated cell of Paisius in the spiritual-historical center "St. Paisius Hilendarski"
to enjoy amazing panoramas towards Pirin from the panoramic platform of Bansko
In Bansko there is the Bansko Gondola.
The most popular ski resort in Bulgaria - Bansko has comfortable and safe lifts that guests of the city can use all year round.
At the disposal of the residents and guests of the resort are two six-seater, six four-seater, two two-seater lifts and one cabin lift, which is also the most attractive and preferred lift in the city.
The cabin ropeway "Bansko - Banderishka Polyana" has a route length of 6,233 meters, which ranks it in second* place in length.
*The championship is held by the Simeonovska ropeway on Vitosha, which has a track length of 6720 meters.
The gondola, as the Bansko gondola lift is also called, was manufactured by the Austrian company Doppelmayr in 2002 (today's Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr-Garaventa) and was put into operation in 2003.
The route through which the lift passes has a height difference of 597 meters, and the capacity of the facility is about 2,000 people per hour.
The stations of the eight local Bansko cable car are three - lower (initial), intermediate and upper (end).
The lower (initial) station is located 998 meters above sea level and is about 2.5 kilometers from the center of Bansko.
At the bottom station of the lift, there are also the cash desks, where tickets and cards for using the lift can be purchased.
The intermediate station is located in the area of Chalin Valog at 1468 meters above sea level.
Here, tourists have two options – either get off the lift to walk or descend the slopes of Chalin Valog, or continue to the upper station of the lift.
The last part of the cable car route starts from the intermediate station "Chalin Valog" to Banderishka Polyana.
The Banderishka Polyana area, where the upper (end) lift station is located, is one of the most attractive places for summer and winter tourism in the Pirin Mountains.
How do you get to the Bansko Gondola?
Only 14 kilometers northwest of Dobrinishte (about 18 minutes by car) is the wonderful Razlog.
In Razlog, I suggest you take the "Steps".
From the place, you will have the magnificent opportunity to enjoy an amazing view of three mountains – the beautiful Pirin, the exquisite Rila and the proud Rhodopes.
The green, orderly, colorful, fresh and incredibly beautiful city park of Razlog is also a place you should not miss to visit.
A walk around the city will calm, amaze and impress you, so just do it.
Only 26 kilometers north of Dobrinishte (about 30 minutes by car) you will find the picturesque Rila village of Dobarsko. A walk here is an immense pleasure and you should not miss it!
In the village there is a unique national cultural monument - the Church of St. St. Theodore Tiron and Theodore Stratilatus in Dobno, which I think is too famous to invite you to visit, because you probably already have.
And perhaps you are looking for attractions and daring entertainment?! If so, the bear park above Belitsa, nestled in the beautiful Rila forests, is just for you!
Just 25 kilometers north of Dobrinishte (about 30 minutes by car) is beautiful Belitsa.
About 12 kilometers northeast of the village of Belitsa (about 22 minutes by car) along a narrow and in some sections rather dusty road in the bottom forests of Rila, there is a bear park that I invite you to visit.
Certainly around the city of Dobrinishte and the city of Bansko you can visit all quality and very interesting sites, eco-paths, routes and places. I will advise you to take the road leading to Vihren hut.
At the side of the road, look around for a detour by the incredibly beautiful, fresh and impressively beautiful river Demyanitsa.
Demyanitsa is a river from the Mesta basin, which collects the waters of six lake groups - Vasilashki, Valyavishki, Prevalski, Tipitski, Kirkamski and Gazeiski lakes. Under the name Valyavitsa, it originates from the Valyavish Lakes at 2,400 meters above sea level. It initially flows west, but after passing through the Tiyatsite area, it heads straight north. Its catchment area is estimated at 37 sq. km. The average slope is 102 per mille, that is, for every kilometer of linear length, the river descends by more than one hundred meters. Near the Demyanitsa hut, it receives two large tributaries - the Vasilashka river on the left, and the Gazeiska river on the right. After that, two more rivers flow into it - Kirkamska on the left and Yulen on the right. This makes it a relatively full-water river with a flow rate of about 1.5 cubic meters per second.
Above Bansko Demyanitsa it merges with the Bunderitsa river and the two together form the Glazne river. The total length of the Demyanitsa river to the confluence with Banderitsa is about 14 kilometers.
Here, enjoy it and feel the freshness of the mountain!
Only 14.5 kilometers from Bansko (about 34 minutes by car) on the road winding through Pirin in the direction of Vihren hut, there is a strange and very, very old tree.
Tree of the years of Bulgaria!
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Baykusheva mura!
And as a finale, my dear friends,
you shouldn't miss a look
the special album with photo moments –
discovered, experienced, captured and shared with you!