Bankya
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Description: Bankya (Bulgarian: Банкя) is an upscale town and district in western Bulgaria. It is administratively part of greater Sofia. The district is famous for the mineral springs and baths that have been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov is a native. In 1969 the village of Bankya was proclaimed a town, and in 1979 it became part of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
History: The Bankya region has been inhabited for thousands of years. During archaeological excavations in Verdikal residential section, remains of Roman buildings, walls, sewerage, and bronze jewelry were found.
From the middle of the 19th century to the Liberation from the Ottoman Dominion in 1878 Bankya was a farm of an Ottoman military leader. In the middle of the farm there was a powerful spring, which was filling a small pool in the bathroom of the leader. Bulgarians were not allowed to take baths in the water; they were only allowed to get in the healing mud of the nearby swamp only once a year. This was happening at the memorial day of the church “St. Martyrs Kirik and Julita”, which is presently celebrated on 15 July. This is where the tradition to celebrate the traditional days of Bankya – “Goreshlyatsi” on 15th, 16th and 17th of July - comes from.
After the Liberation, Bulgarians bought back entirely the lands of the leader’s heirs, and in the end of the 19th century the first hotel was opened here. Soon after that the mineral springs in the region were piped. The building of the first public bath in the town was built in 1906. It was called: “The Small Bath”. In 1910, according to a project of the Munich architect Karl Hocheder, one of the most famous European specialists of balneological installations, the “Large Bath” was completed. With its monumentality and functionality, it is one of the most famous symbols of Bankya.
Location: The town of Bankya is situated at a distance of 17 km west of Sofia, at the foot of the Lyulin Mountain, at or around an altitude of about 700 meters. Its population is about 21,503 people. The climate in the region is temperate continental, with an average January temperature of + 2o C and an average July temperature of +19.6° С. The tranquility of the mountain, the fresh air and the healing water are the reason for Bankya to acquire the statute of a resort, preferred for relaxation and balneological treatment.
Population: 21,503 (estimated -- 2022)
Economy: Tourism and balneological science. Bankya is famous for its mineral water, with a temperature of 36.5 - 37o C. The water has low mineralization, hypo-thermal, with a low level of hardness, clean, without a smell, with many pleasant taste qualities, and it is suitable for everyday drinking. It is successfully used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases and nervous system disorders. The name of Bankya is also related to mineral water. It actually means “small bath”.
Places of Interest
There are many interesting landmarks in the region of Bankya. Among them are the following: the church “St. Cyril and St. Methodius”, the temple “Martyrs Kirik and Julita”, built in 1932, as well as the church “St. George” in Ivalyane, built on the ruins of an old votive temple from Roman times. “All Saints” in Vedikal residential section is the oldest Christian temple in the region of Bankya. It is believed that it was built immediately after the Boyana church (10th – 11th century).
The monastery “St. Petka” is situated at a distance of about 7 km from the center of Bankya, in the village of Klisura. It was established in the 13th century. Presently it is an operating nunnery. Accommodation is offered in it, but the proximity to Bankya facilitates tourists. The memorial day of the holy monastery is the 14th of October.
Another monastery in the Bankya region is the Divotinski monastery. It is situated 5 km southwest of the town. Its history is unclear, but legends say that it was established in the years of the reign of Tsar Peter (927 – 969).
“Vazor’s Oak” is another popular place in Bankya. This was the favorite place for relaxation of the great Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov (1850 – 1921).
- -- Bankya Palace -- A spa hotel of growing fame.
- -- The Church of Martyrs -- The patron saints of the church are the martyrs Quiricus and Julietta; the church was built in 1932 and inaugurated by bishop Stephen from Sofia (holy ground).
- -- Bankya Golf & Country Club -- The country club is in fact the former Bulgarian presidential residence.
- -- Bankya Mineral Baths -- The Mineral Baths in Bankya were built in 1907–1910 to the design of Munich architect Carl Hocheder who was a specialist in balneological architecture.
- -- Vazov's Oak -- The famous Bulgarian poet - Ivan Vazov's favorite place of relaxation.
Website: http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/271/Bankya
Local Despot: Raina Lom
Lore: The former vampiric despot Kamiko Tanaka of the Banu Haqim, the Scourge of Sofia, now deceased, and before that, Marius Ignatius, one time Tzimisce Primogen of Sofia. Since the departure of the Baron, rumors have circulated that werewolves and transient vampires have been sighted in and around the town. The region is beginning to get a dark reputation among the city's Kindred. Since 2012, Raina Lom has established herself as the local vampiric despot; under her influence Bankya has once again flowered into a thriving tourist zone -- albeit one that caters to far more than balneological treatments. In 2020, she was officially recognized as the domain's lawful despot by the new prince.
Secrets: Raina Lom the Ventrue was responsible for driving the former Tzimsice primogen from his domain and for the subsequent harassment of any would be vampiric colonist. Since 2012, she has secretly established a temple to the dead Egyptian god Set in the crypt of a little used Greek Orthodox church. Visiting Followers of Set now use the crypt as a stopover point on their travels else-where. If her plans come to fruition, there will soon be a small and unobtrusive Setite colony in Bankya.
