MINERAL WATERS, MUD – CURE, RELAXATION, HEALTH

One of the biggest riches in Bulgaria are curative spas, peppered the whole territory – over 600 natural spas and over 370 drilling ones, some of them are equal in composition to the waters of the most famous world balneotherapy (e.g. Baden-Baden, Vishi etc.) and mud-curing health resorts. Since the time of ancient Thracians and Romans there have been built settlements and baths near spas-remains of thermal and Turkish baths are preserved in many places, where balneotherapy sanatoriums and mineral resorts rise now.

In ancient times, the cult of Asklepiy and Higia was made, later – of Christian healers Kozma and Damyan.

A combination of favourable climate, mineral waters and beautiful scenery is a reason for many people to go on holiday to spas and to combine their treatment and rest.

In part of the resorts, which are mountainous and semi-mountainous, balneotherapy is combined with climate-therapy: Velingrad, Narechen (nerve ailments, diabetes), Varshets, Kyustendil, Kostenets, Sapareva Banya (with the hottest mineral waters), Sandanski (especially for pulmonary diseases), Sofia etc. In Pomorie, mud-cure is practiced. Pavel Banya is recommended for tone-joint diseases etc., Hisarya – mainly for kidney and gastric-intestinal diseases etc.

Most of health resorts offer specialized programmes too: thalassotherapy, classical, traditional and under-water massage, helioprophylaxis, reflexotherapy, aromatherapy, phytotherapy, antistress programmes, diets, sauna, solariums.