World at Work 2 - Recycling - Bansko - Bulgaria

Here on Travel Tales there are more posts about Bulgaria entitled. 1. Bansko - Bulgaria  2. Bansko - Market Day  and 3. Holy Trinity Church - Bansko

This post originally appeared last year on LindyLouMac's World in Photos

Holy Trinity Church - Bansko - Bulgaria

The Greek Orthodox 'Holy Trinity' Church in Bansko is one of the most important and historic landmarks in the town. Therefore well deserving of a post especially to share my photos with you, although unfortunately no internal ones as cameras were not allowed.  Building of the church by local craftsmen commenced in 1835, when it was first consecrated. Within three years a monastery school had been built in the churchyard, the tower was not added until 1850 and it did not get a clock until 1865.

Since its construction during Ottoman rule the church has established itself as the spiritual and cultural centre of Bansko. Playing an important part in the revival of the Bulgarian National spirit and independence in 1912, this place of Orthodox religion was apparently supported by many educated men, that were also revolutionaries.

If you are interested in learning more about the murals, icons, architecture and general history of the building information plus photos can be found by visiting these links.  Bansko - Holy Trinity Church   About The Holy Trinity Church

It was raining when my sister and I visited, hence the spot on lens!

More rain spots, plus if you look carefully, the painting photographed below.

I was particularly pleased with the following photos of the storks nest on the church tower.  It is said that a pair of white storks return to the nest each year, something I would love to see for myself, an event that is very important  to the locals and of course a great visitor attraction. 

Just imagine this photo with a stork nesting here!

The links below will take you directly to the pages on Bansko and my earlier posts if you are interested in learning more about the church, town and the ski-slopes.  

Church:
Bansko - Holy Trinity Church   About The Holy Trinity Church

General:
Bansko - Wikipedia  Municipality of Bansko - Official Website  Travel Tales - Bansko - Bulgaria  
Travel Tales - Market Day in Bansko

For Skiers:
Bansko Blog.com  Facebook Page - Bansko Blog   Twitter - Bansko Blog

                                               All photos are my own taken in January 2014
  

 All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

More photos from this trip may also be viewed individually in the collection entitled  

Bansko - Bulgaria at My Flickr  account.

Market Day - Bansko - Bulgaria

Those of you that have been following my blogs for the last few years will know that I have a fascination with markets, seeing them as full of great photographic opportunities.  Bansko provided me with another excuse to add to my collection, portraying Markets around the world. 

Hope you enjoyed your virtual market visit.  Which are your favourite scenes? I have one more post to share with you about the church in Bansko, which will follow soon.

The links below will take you directly to the pages on Bansko if you are interested in learning more about the town and the ski-slopes.

General
Bansko - Wikipedia  Municipality of Bansko - Official Website
For Skiers:
Bansko Blog.com  Facebook Page - Bansko Blog   Twitter - Bansko Blog

                                               All photos are my own taken in January 2014
  

 All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

More photos from this trip may also be viewed individually in the collection entitled  

Bansko - Bulgaria at My Flickr  account.

Bansko - Bulgaria

Coat of Arms - Bansko - Courtesy of Wikipedia

David and I had been planning to travel to Bansko together this winter, so I was delighted to accept an offer from my sister and brother-in-law to accompany them on their recent trip. Despite having only been home a few days from my long haul travel I had decided after initial doubts that I should take up the opportunity. I am so glad I did as it was a very enjoyable trip with plenty of relaxation in the pool and jacuzzi, delicious local food at a few of the many restaurants and of course some ski-ing!

Postcard purchased in Bansko

Location of Bansko:
Bansko is a  mountain resort located in the south-west of Bulgaria. The town is situated 6 km from the town of Razlog and 160 km from the capital of Sofia. Bansko lies on the two banks of the Glazne river at the foot of the Pirin mountain, just below its highest peak. The Pirin mountain is an Alpine type mountain with its highest peak - Vihren (2914 m). The town of Bansko is located 925 m above sea level with the ski area - at altitudes of 2000 to 2600 m.

Map of Ski -Area

History of  Bansko : 
The archaeological traces of the inhabitants of Bansko appear to date to the early periods of the Roman Empire. There are several housing structures at the outskirts of the town, which date to 100 BC, but it is not known who these people were. There are several legends about who founded Bansko. According to one of them, Bansko was founded by people who lived in Dobarsko, a village in Rila, itself according to a legend founded by the blinded army of Tsar Samuil. Another legend claims that Bansko was founded by an Italian painter by the name of Ciociolino, hence the existence of the name Chucholin in Bansko.

Still according to another version it was a Slavic tribe called the Peruns, who lived in Pirin and worshiped Perun, that founded the village later to become a town.

Bansko became part of Bulgaria, during the reign of Khan Krum, most probably around 811 AD and has been part of Bulgaria, ever since except the period when the country was under Ottoman rule.

Bulgarian Flag

I was very taken with the resort especially the older parts of the town and in some ways it reminded me of Italy as it was when we first started visiting over forty years ago.  I have tried to capture the atmosphere of Bansko through my camera lens and hope you will enjoy the photos I have chosen to share here with you on a walk around the town when we first arrived, which was before the snow arrived at town level!

Bansko - Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Post on church will follow soon.

As you can see the snow did arrive down in the town! Don't forget the photos will enlarge to view, just click on any one. Meanwhile I hope you got the feeling of some the town's atmosphere, back soon with more Bansko posts.

With thanks to the following sites for the background information included in this post. The links will take you directly to the pages on Bansko if you are interested in learning more about the town and the ski-slopes.

General
Bansko - Wikipedia  Municipality of Bansko - Official Website
For Skiers:
Bansko Blog.com  Facebook Page - Bansko Blog   Twitter - Bansko Blog

                           All photos unless stated otherwise are my own taken in January 2014
  

 All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection

More photos from this trip may also be viewed individually in the collection entitled  

Bansko - Bulgaria at My Flickr  account.