Bansko 3

Walking trail village of BANSKO – MALA CHESHMA – village of BANSKO

The walking trail starts from the village of Bansko, by forest road. The trail has clean nature, diverse colours, and above us great blue sky.

While walking along the trail one can hear the quiet wind rustling through the leaves, and branches of birches, oaks, and beeches. This awakens all the senses, and one feels peace and tranquillity, that awakens the primordial feelings in each of us.

When walking along the trail one can observe layers of cultural - historical heritage, and one of the most representative evidences, the archaeological site of the Late-Roman thermal spa in Bansko, dating from the 3th and 4th century, which is located at distance of 12 km, East of Strumica, in the valley of Belasica mountain. The facility uses the healing waters of the spring “Parilo”, located at 50 m, South-West of it, whose capacity is 42 litres per second, and the temperature is 72°C, found long ago by the Romans, a great treasure also used in later periods.

The spa is used for therapy, and the water has healing effect for diseases including: all kinds of rheumatic diseases, sciatica and arthritis, asthmatic diseases, diseases of the digestive organs (ulcer, gastritis, and intestinal diseases), after-treatment following fractured bones, condition after having hepatitis, and nervous disorders.

The spa is surrounded by forests of chestnut and linden, and Clear Mountain springs. The ferns of Macedonian origin grow in the vicinity of the spa and are protected by the United Nations.

The trail continues up to “Mala Cheshma”, a very old fountain, with clean and cold water. This is a nice place for visitors to take rest. The fountain is surrounded with a garden full of diverse types of tea, different flowers, fruits and rich vegetation.

From here, we take the same road back to the village of Bansko, which thankfully to the warm mineral springs, is used for production of early vegetables. Today it is also known to be a famous recreational centre.

• Flora and fauna:

The walking trail has diverse flora, fungi, and fauna.

The grass flora is rich and allows collecting of diverse types of flowers, tea, and fruits. There is also short stemmed forest including: raspberries, blackberries, currants, blueberries, dog rose. There are also different types of mushrooms: chanterelles – cantharellus; champignon- agaricus bisporus and parasol mushroom - Macrolepiota procera.

The lower parts of the trail are prevalent with deciduous trees including: betuala alba – birch; tilia sp. – linden; acer sp. – maple. The evergreens, present in the upper parts include: pinus sp. – pine; juniperus sp. – juniper; and thuja sp. - thuja.The richness and heterogeneity of types of eco-systems found here are the result of a favourable climate and specific geographic location.

Fauna that can be spotted on the trail include: rabbits, wild boar, wolves and foxes. Among the birds that can be seen are: nightingales, pheasants, partridges, eagles and falcons, and there are also various kinds of insects.

• Additional opportunities for using the trail (eco-tourism, thermal tourism, archaeological tourism, rural tourism, walking and jogging, mountain biking, herbal tourism).

TRACK TYPE: Ground