Bulgaria’s biggest carst spring pumps out 1200 liters of cold mineral water each second. Its name is Kleptouza and the spring is situated in the town of Velingrad.

Much of the spring’s water is used as tap water in Velingrad. The rest enters two lakes that empty into Maritsa and Chepinksa rivers.

The first lake was constructed in 1933 using municipal funding. Pine forests in the surrounding region have become a favorite walk and leisure time place. A restaurant was set up, as well.

Since April 2008, the park and the lakes became state property and have ever since been placed under the management of Velingrad municipality.

Zlatograd is a town in Bulgaria, 60 km from Smolyan. It is located in a valley between the eastern and central massif of the Rhodope Mountains. The Greek  border lies just 5 km away from the town.

Zlatograd municipality has common borders with the municipalities of Kirkovo and Dzhebel (to the east), Nedelino (to the north), Madan and Rudozem (to the west) and with the Republic of Greece (to the south) – on the borderline between Bulgaria and Greece).

The traditional Zlatograd houses impress not only with their whiteness and round chimneys, but also with the genuine combination of architectural elements.

Zlatograd ethnic and cultural aerial has been inhabited for millenniums. The town itself boasts many centuries of history. Numerous archeological finds and cultural monuments are there to support this: pagan sanctuaries, acropolis, tombs, Christian and Muslim places of cult – all these wrapped in the romantic spell of folklore sagas and traditions.

The territory of the municipality is crossed by Varbitza River and its tributaries Nedelinska and Kushlenska rivers. There is a dam lake called “Zlatograd” and a micro dam lake called “Hasidere” in the area.

There is a tailings pond called “Erma Reka” which is 8 km away from the town of Zlatograd and 5 km away from the village of Erma reka. The municipality is rich in underground resources. In the surroundings of Erma Reka there is a geothermal deposit of hot mineral water.

The small picturesque town of Bankya is a world-famous spa resort, situated amidst greenery and sunshine 17 km west from Sofia at the foot of Lulin Mountain. What best characterizes the town are the climate, the healing virtues of the mineral waters, the well-organized sanatorium and resort accommodation, the highly skilled medical specialists, as well as the numerous patients that have recovered after cardiovascular disorders or insult.
Bankya Beach – modern swimming pools with mineral water
The climate in Bankya is temperate continental with gentle mountain breeze, rich in negative ions and phonoceds. The summer is fresh and cool; the autumn is mild and sunny, while the winter is temperately cold. The mineral waters are colourless and warm, slightly mineralized and hypothermal, with temperatures of 36.5 - 37 C and total flow of 24 l/sec. These climatic conditions are favourable both for a year-round treatment, and general prophylactics or strengthening of the human organism.
Today, the town of Bankya is a prestige National Center for rehabilitation of people suffering from cardiovascular and nerve system disorders and disorders in the metabolism. Bankya is also an international resort and has at its disposal many highly skilled diagnosticians.
The town of Bankya provides an excellent infrastructure for tourism, recreation and medical treatment, as well as numerous opportunities for entertainment. There are two medical spa centers, hydrothermal pools and modern sanatoriums, mineral beach, tennis complex, National hippodrome etc., as well as numerous historical places of interest, churches, cozy hotels and restaurants able satisfy each guest of the town.
Besides there are dozens of cultural initiatives, which are organized during the traditional festivities celebrating the mineral water “Goreshljaci”.
The first settlers on the territory of Bankya were the Thracians, who came to live here 2500 years ago. Excavations near the area of Verdical revealed remnants from Roman buildings and walls, sewerage system and many bronze bracelets dating back to IV – V century A.D. Written documents certifying the existence of the town of Bankya are found in a Turkish tax register from XV century. In the year of 1969, Bankya was proclaimed a town, and in 1979 it became part of the capital Sofia.
Very interesting to visit are the church “St. St. Kiriak and Julita” and the “St. Petka” Monastery situated in the place of Klisura. The Divotinski Monastery is only 20 km away. In the region of Bankya there are also many eco tracks.
Bankya is world-wide known health resort. It is situated in the beautiful valley on the slopes of the Lyulin mountain, 17 km far from Sofia, in the green foothills of the Lyulin Mountain, at an altitude of 630-640 m.
Mineral waters-slightly mineralized, hypothermal, hydrocarbonic-sulphate-sodiumt clear, colourless, with a temperature of 36.5-37C and very tasting. The resort climate is temperate continental a bio-climatic respect is qualified as soothing to invigorating.  The summer is fresh, the autumn warm and sunny and the winter moderately cold. This climatic conditions are favourable both for year-round spa treatment, as well as for general prophylactics and the hardening of organism.
Bankya balneotreatment resort, near Sofia is a resort of international importance. During the archeological excavations in the region many years ago remains of churches, ceramics and coins dating from the Roman times have been found.

Important notes
Bankya is turning into part of the capital Sofia now. Being very close to the city, just 15-17 km from the ideal centre, more and more people are looking forward to moving and living permanently in Bankya. The population in Bulgaria has been living mainly in the urban areas of the country, to be close to their work places. As result the rural areas of Bulgaria are populated mostly by older pensioners. Things are quickly changing now: the young and mid-age professionals with families are moving in areas near the cities and towns, where they can enjoy the beauty of the nature, providing healthy living conditions for their families, lots of forests and green areas, places where they can build family houses with gardens, safe for children to play, etc. In general people in Bulgaria are now fed up of living in the busy, noisy and crowded cities and many of them are looking to move out. This process is already starting, but it is expected it to boom in the next 5-10 years, as the incomes of these families are increasing. We believe that it is now time for the wise investors to start purchasing plots in such areas and especially Bankya. There are many reasons why this small and picturesque town will attract the new settlers from the city:
- Bankya is only 17 km from the centre of Sofia;
- The climate here is exceptionally healty and mild
- Beautiful nature
- Bankya is easily and quickly reachable by car, train, public bus or taxi (onoy 20 minutes driving from the centre of Sofia)
- Bankya is very well provided with local amenities, shops, entertainments, beauftiful parks, resort infrastructure.
- The local price of the land is much lower than the similar areas, but much overcrwded and commericalised villages at the foot of Vitosha mountain: eg. Simeonovo and Dragalevtsi
- The whole town is supplied by gas propane netowrk for cheap heating and household needs
More and more nice built and looking properties appear in Bankya every month. This will attract even more newcomers from the city.
Source: myopera.com

The town of Hissar is proud with its 1000 decares of lawns and park areas planted with over 300 different kinds of vegetation. All of the sanatoriums, hotels and villas in town have a park attached to them. The “Momina Salza” park takes up the area around mineral spring Momina Salza. This is the oldest park in the town of Hissar. It is situated on several different levels. There is a mineral water pavilion in the park. The beautiful fountain with the girl is also located here.