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Regional tourist association Stara Planina 9, Opalchenska Street 5300 Gabrovo, Bulgaria tel: +359 66/ 807 137 fax: +359 66/ 809 161 e-mails: |
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PAVEL BANIA – THE TOWN OF ROSES AND MINERAL SPRINGS
LOCATION 
Municipality of Pavel banya (17 100 inhabitants, 400 m. altitude, area 518 sq.m.) is situated in the central part of the sub-Balkan valley in the middle of the picturesque Rose Valley near the bank of Tundzha River. One of the most beautiful and big dam lakes – Koprinka - is formed by the waters of Tundzha River. Nestled among Stara planina Mountain in the north and Sredna gora Mountain in the south, surrounded by mountains, green forests and rivers Pavel banya ànd its mineral springs offer perfect conditions for rural and medical tourism. The town has a central geographical position, which makes it accessible from all parts of the country. Pavel banya lies 4 km from the railway track and the high road Sofia-Burgas, 80 km from Plovdiv and 20 km from Kazanlak. 
The administrative structure of the municipality involves 13 settlements – 12 villages (Osetenovo, Alexandrovo, Tarnicheni, Tuja, Manolovo, Gabarevo, Viden, Turia, Gorno Sahrane, Dolno Sahrane, Asen and Skobelevo) and the municipal center – the town of Pavel banya.The climate is moderate-continental. Summer is warm but not too hot, freshened by mountain-valley winds, mass of water in Koprinka Dam and grove slopes of Sredna gora. Winter is mild with low windiness. Spring comes in the middle of March, warm and sunny autumn lasts up to the middle of November. The water resources of the region include surface, underground and thermal mineral waters. The Tundzha River with its bugger tributaries - the Tuzha, Gabrovnitsa and Turiyska Rivers forms the fluvial system of the region. Approximately 57 % of the territory of Pavel Banya area is occupied by forests, which take up the Stara planina and Sredna Gora Mountain massifs, included within the boundaries of the district. The forestry in the area is represented by deciduous trees mostly, such as the oak, yoke-elm, ash-tree, lime-tree and scabby horn-beam. 
NATURE The Central Balkan National Park lies in the heart of Bulgaria] it takes an area of 716 sq. Km. in Central Stara planina Mountain. The Park terrain includes centuries-old forests, large high-mountain meadows, vertical rock faces, deep canyons, waterfalls, as well as numerous peaks, together with the highest one - Botev peak (2370 m) The Park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historical sites of global cultural and scientific significance. There are nine Reserves within the National Park: Boatin, Tsarichina, Kozya Stena, Steneto, Severen Djendem, Peeshti Skali, Sokolna, Djendema and Stara Reka, which occupy 1/3-rd from Park’s territory. Sokolna Reserve was established in 1979 and embrace part of the Sokolna and Kiuy dere rivers. It is located on the territory of the villages Skobelevo and Asen, in the southeastern part of the Triglav mountain massif, at 730 – 1 770 meters above the sea level. Here is the biggest deposit of the yew in Stara planina mountain. The forests are oak – tree, hornbeam, sycamore. The purpose of the reserve is to protect the unique variety of rare plants’ and animal species. 
In the lowest parts of the Sokolna reserve one can see lilac and juniper. The Sokolna reserve is one of the natural gardens that have preserved the variety of the threatened with extinction plants – Stara planina primrose, yellow mountain cream, Stara planina edelweiss and many others. On its territory there are more than 600 species of plants.Very interesting and beautiful are the vertical rocks, the screes, the forests, the streams and the waterfalls. The bird variety is opulent – imperial eagle, hunt falcon, falcon wanderer, big and small hawk, owl, tawny – owl and other over 40 species of birds. 
Tundzha River takes its source from the influx of the Selskata River. It is the biggest tributary of Maritsa River, and its total water area is 7880 sq. km. The upper stream of Tundzha River crosses the territory of Dzhendema reserve and bears all its characteristic features – impressive rocky landscape, mixed beech forests and sheltering exclusive wildlife diversity. The crops in the valley of Tundzha river are always opulent – juicy peaches, aromatic grapes, vegetables.Gabrovnitsa River takes its sources from the foothills of Triglav Mountain Massif and marks the eastern boundary of the Central Balkan Park. Its picturesque valley is surrounded by inaccessible rocks and screes. The aged beeches, spruces and fir-trees and the caves hidden below them make cozy refuges for abundant wildlife. By a good luck one could observe chamois and even bears. The Kademlia Peak (Vezir Tepe) – 2275.4 meters above sea level is the second highest in Central Balkan National Park. The peak is located above the village of Tuzha, north of the “Rahmanski rut” place, between the “Pashovitsa” place, mountain peak Zelenikovets and the Tundzha River. HISTORY Pavel banya did not exist till the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman slavery, but the lands around the settlement has been utilized ever since the remote past. During the archeological excavations in the neighborhood of Pavel banya remains from an ancient town, Roman baths and balneological facilities, a big Christian church and other buildings had been discovered and prove that springs were well-known ever since in the past. Numerous historical and archeological sights as Thracian temples and Tombs, remains from Roman and Byzantine roads are preserved up to the present. 
10 km east from Pavel banya, on the left bank of Tundzha River, Thracian king Seuthes III built the capital of Sevtopolis – a center of Thracian kingdom, hidden under the waters of Koprinka Dam.
Ten settlement mounds were built in the four directions around the mineral springs. Many of them get within the bounds of the city; one of them is in Gerena locality, where the balneological complex is situated. Other remains are scattered in the surroundings – in Shipka (the Tombs Golyama Kosmatkaand Ostrusha), in Gabarevo village (Popova mogila, Gabarevskata mogila). In Tuzha village there are a lot of remains from settlements and necropolis mounds, the most popular one is the Choeva mogila burial near Hydroelectric Power Station; In Viden village there are many findings, which testify to the existence of life ever since the Thracian period. Centuries ago this region had been a center of Thracian material and spiritual culture. Pavel banya appeared as a settlement right after the Liberation war was announced in 1877. Several days before the withdrawal of the Russian troops, the people from village of Turiya found out that Kalofer was on fire and it was burnt down from Ottomans. The original inhabitants of the village fled via Shipka village. This event was popular as “Rush across the Balkan”. The Ottomans set on fire all the villages across the Valley of Tundzha River. The village was plundered and completely destroyed by fire. In spring on 3 of March 1878, the local people came back in Turiya but they found just ashes. They settled in evacuated Turkish village Ludzhakioy, situated in close proximity to hot mineral springs. The people from Turiya settled here and gave the name of St. Pavel and the grand duke Pavel – a brother of the Russian King Osvoboditel (the Liberator). Nowadays Pavel banya is a dynamically developing resort, with annual visits of about 20 000 tourists from the country and abroad. Pavel banya owns its popularity to the healing mineral waters it is endowed with. They spring from 7 natural and artificial wells, the temperature of some 63oC. Most of the waters are fluoride, slightly mineralized. The high content of fluoride and metasilicon acid, as well as the expressed hyperthermality has good healing effect on a number of joint diseases. The water is excellent for healing inflammations, chronic rheumatism, arthritis, the Behterev syndrome, post-traumatic and orthopedic conditions, post bone-fracture states, inborn problems of the pelvis joints. Treatment results have been particularly effective in case of deformations resulting from spine problems and the peripheral nervous system, discopathic states of all kinds, diseases of the central nervous system, gynaecological problems. The Rehabilitation Center is open all year round. It is very popular among Bulgarian and foreign citizens as a nice place for effective treatment and relaxation. The wonderful natural resources of the district, the rivers flowing nearby as well as Koprinka Dam predispose to fishing tourism and water sports. TRADITIONS AND FESTIVITIES 
Municipality of Pavel banya is one of the centers in rose production and rose-oil distillation. 5 000 decares of roses and 2 000 decares of other essential-oil are cropped within the territory of the municipality. At present, there are 9 rose-distilleries in Pavel banya area. They are located in the villages of Skobelevo, Manolovo and Turnichene. Two of them are open for visits - Enio Bonchev rose-distillery in the village of Turnichene and Damascena – Skobelevo village. The rose production in Pavel banya municipality is one of the main economic branches. The Rose Festival was celebrated for the first time in 1967. In 2005 the tradition was renewed by organizing the FESTIVAL OF ROSES AND THE MINERAL WATER. The Festival starts in the beginning of June and attracts a lot of tourists from the country and abroad. During the festival a Rose Queen and King of Mineral waters are elected and they accompany all the events during the festivities. 
The Rituals of Rose-picking and Rose-oil distillation are demonstrated by means of traditional and temporary methods, the participants from various cities and nations march in presentation of their hobbies and activities. An International Folklore festival, sport dancing and swimming competitions were carried out in Pavel banya. During the folklore festivals the children from the municipality show traditional customs. The ancient customs as “Lazaruvane”, „Koleduvane”, “Kukeri” have been preserved up to the present. A week before Easter one can hear the song of young ladies, who dance and sing for the beginning of spring under the lively sunbeams. 
On Christmas Eve the streets echoed with Christmas songs. Boys, separated into groups and dressed with traditional costumes, mantled with hooded cloaks, go about the houses singing and wishing for good health and a profitable year for the farmers.There are 10 kuker’s (mummer’s) bands within Pavel banya municipality with more than 300 participants. Traditionally, on the first Sunday before Lent everybody dressed as “old men”, ”scarecrows”  etc. set off from the outskirts of the town and gather on central square to dance and play for rich harvest and health under the sound of cow-bells in order to send away the misfortune. A lot of people from the country and abroad come here for this feast and it is a pleasure for them to feel the Bulgarian spirit watching the magnificent show.The Karamandra Association of Karakachan people (nomad mountain shepherds of Greek origin) in the village of Gorno Sahrane turns into a traditional one the Karakachan Fair in the village, held annually on St. Elija's Day. It’s already becoming more and more popular even abroad. Everything here is authentic and real: the karakachan’s wedding, karakachan’s folklore, karakachan’s hovel and the barbecue, the traditional delicacy called “kukureche”, the ecological home-made cheese and milk… One can see and taste all these in the village of Gorno Sahrane and to take away as a souvenir authentic karakachan’s costume. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS There are two monuments in the town center of Pavel banya. The first one is the monument of the youngest leader of Boteva detachment– Tsanko Minkov Komitata (1856-1944), who had survived in a great number of battles and died at 90 years old in his home town of Pavel banya. 
The other monument is devoted to the famous opera singer Todor Mazzarov (1905 -1975), who spread the celebrity of Bulgarian art of singing in the world by virtue of his wonderful bel canto.“DZHANOVA KASHTA” in the village of Gabarevo - an old Revival house built in 1882 and declared a historical monument of culture of National importance, houses the museum of Vassil Levski. Here Vassil Levski – the Apostle of Bulgarian Liberty founded the local Revolutionary committee. Today the house-museum offers an exposition reproducing the authentic arrangement of a typical Gabarevo Revival house. THE STONE CHURCH “St. George” in the village of Gabarevo in the center of the village was built in 1885. It fascinates with an exceptionally beautiful woodcarved iconostasis made by Masters from the famous Tryavna Art School. According to the Annals book of the church at the place of the present Altar there had been a small church dig into the ground. 
In 1834 with the support of the local people a bigger temple was built. The evidence is a metal seal with the face of St.George the Conqueror. The church had such appearance up to 1877 when it had been destroyed by fire together with the whole village by the Turkish troops. After the Liberation the church had been rebuilt once again together with the restoration of the houses and the latter survived till 1885. The fourth restoration and enlargement of the church, internal construction, icon-painting and the construction of the Bell Tower had been finished in 1895. Another sight of interest in Gabarevo is Raducheva House – a restored house from last century. A restaurant with local cuisine is located on the first floor and a private museum of Karakachan’s customs and culture is placed on the second floor. The owner of the house Stefan Raduchev was brother-in-arms of the famous Bulgarian hero Vasil Levski. His house is declared as a historical monument of culture. 
VILLAGE OF TURIYA (600 residents), huddled at the foot of the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain, below mountain peak Bratan, is located just 4 km south-southwest of the town of Pavel Banya, on the road to the town of Plovdiv. The village of Turiya is well-known as the native village of the patriarch of Bulgarian humor – the famous worldwide writer and artist Dimitar Chorbadjiiski – Chudomir. The house of birth of Chudomir, restored in 1990 is now transformed into an ethnographical house-museum. The village can offer its visitors and guests an Ethnographical museum, which is arranged in the building of the local Community Center. The museum exhibits a collection representing the history and ethnography of the village. Another attraction of the village is the stone arch bridge over the Turiiska River, also known as the Roman Bridge. 
What has been attracting the attention of the guests of the village for several years now is the rose gardens in the vicinity of Turiya and the opportunity for participation in the rose picking ritual, which usually takes place in the end of May - beginning of June, also the delicious home made cookies, yogurt, butter, the unique rose jam and syrup, the resonant bells of the Old men (Mummers) of Turiya ringing in the village square, the horse-cart ride to the romantic village picnic site by the river, where the tourists are served traditional Bulgarian dishes, home made salads, beans in pot, stuffed vine leaves, roasted meat, cheese pastry with yogurt, rose brandy, all of which accompanied by humorous scenes from Chudomir’s narratives. The Mummer holiday has preserved its pagan authenticity and is one of the most attractive events in the municipality. The Mummer’s carnival in Touria is something that has to be seen by all means.THE VILLAGE OF SKOBELEVO(750 residents) is located in immediate proximity to the south-easternmost part of Central Balkan National Park, 11 km north of the town of Pavel Banya and 2 km away from the village of Assen. The vast rose gardens by the village, which have merged with the majestic figure of the Balkan Mountain, form the particular charm of Skobelevo. The village is both an interesting destination for rose picking and also a good starting point for the Kingdom of wildlife in the National Park and its Natural reserve “Sokolna”. In the the first private distillery in Bulgaria Damascena, located in Skobelevo village visitors can enjoy the production of essential oils with modern technologies and old-style production methods dating from 300 years ago. In Damascena distillery one can testify the quality of different kinds of essential oils and make familiar with their use. There’s also an ethnographic complex there built in the original Bulgarian style, offering a closer look to the traditional rose oil production. All the guests are invited to see the museum exposition or to try the essential oils. The time spent in the garden is refreshing and unforgettable experience. Four seasons Ostrich ranch is situated in Skobelevo village, too. Eight ostrich families are breed after the European standards. According to the data the exotic feathered reach weight of 150 kg. The female lay from 40 up to 100 eggs per season, with weight from 1650 to 1800 grams each. As this ostrich farm is unique for the district, one can taste the ostrich specialties only here. VILLAGE OF TUZHA (1750 residents) is among the most picturesque Balkan villages. The village is a starting point for the most attractive part of south-east area of the Central Balkan National park; one of the local offices of the park is located here. The beautiful Tuzha gorge, which forms the southeast spurs of Dzhendema natural reserve, starts from here and the cosy mountain trails lead to the other natural reserve – “Sokolna” and to the Sokolna hut. The shortest tourist trails to the peaks Triglav and Mazalat and to Russalka mountain hut start from here; a well-marked mountain trail will lead the hikers to the ridge where it merges with the European tourist trail E-3. Not far from the village are located the two natural waterfalls Praskaloto and Turnichensko praskalo. Tuzha is also a very colorful village. The local Historical museum is arranged in the Community center hosting archaeological and ethnographical collection. An art gallery of pictures dedicated to the village and the surrounding nature is exhibited in an old house. Yet the greatest attraction in the village is Dimitar Manolov’s house – a completely restored Revival house, transformed into an Art-gallery with a studio where the self-taught artist does modern painting and woodcarving. The private collection of over 30 mummers’ bells, all made by the Old Bulgarian masters bell-founders is also presented here. The traditional for the region Mummer’s Carnival is held just a week before Shrovetide and is also known as “Starcheshka bulka” (Old man’s bride). In some of the old Revival houses the visitors may taste delicious home-made dishes and even stay at the house for a couple of days. Just for a change the guests of the village can visit “The Old House” Tavern, which also offers authentic Revival atmosphere and beautiful panoramic view to the Balkan Mountain. Early Byzantine fortification is located 5 km northwest of the village of Tuzha village. One can see parts of the eastern wall, which reaches 2 m in height and part of the western wall, which is 1 m high. At the other points the wall is completely destroyed, transformed into a huge stone, mortar mound. The fortress is an improper polygon. There are many finds on the territory of the village of Tuzha, which testify to the existence of life ever since the Thracian period, among them Thracian burial moulds, golden coins of Jovian, Gracian, Valentian I, Justinian, etc. A big coin from the time of Bulgarian king Ivan Alexander was found in the western part of the village. LOCAL CUISINE KARAKACHAN’S VEGETABLE SOUP WITH CHEESE 
Products: 2 handfuls of green beans, 2 sticks of leek, 1 onion, 1/2 small head of cabbage, 1 small head of cauliflower, 3-4 spoonfuls of vegetable oil, 150 g white cheese, a bunch of parsley, 1 spoonful of clear meat soup, salt.Boil the string beans in some water and smash with a fork. Add the clear meat soup and boil again. Stew the finely chopped onion, the leek cut in big pieces, the cabbage cut in stripes and the cauliflower torn in small flowers for about 10 minutes and add them to the boiling soup. Add salt to your taste. When the vegetables are boiled up add the grated white cheese. After 10 minutes remove the soup from the fire and sprinkle with the finely chopped parsley. KARAKACHAN BEANS SOUP WITH SMOKED RIBS 
Products: 1 teacup of beans, 1 onion, 400 g smoked ribs, 1 spoonful of flour, 1 teaspoon of red pepper, 6 spoonfuls of vegetable oil, mint and salt.
Soak the beans in the previous evening. Boil for 20-30 minutes, then strain off, pour 6-7 tea cups of cold water and boil again together with the smoked ribs till completely soft. Then separate the meat from the bones, cut it to pieces and add again to the beans. Stew the finely chopped onion, the red pepper and the flour in the vegetable oil and add to the beans. Boil the soup for 15-20 minutes more. Add the finely chopped mint and serve.KARAKACHAN VEGETABLE GIUVETCH (HOTCH - POTCH) Products: 7-8 peppers, 2 bunches of spring onion, 3-4 tomatoes (or 1/2 jar conserved tomatoes), peas, 150 g white cheese, 2 eggs, 5 spoonfuls of vegetable oil, 1/2 pack of fresh butter, 2 spoonfuls of flour, 1 teacup of yogurt, 1 teaspoon of red pepper, salt and parsley. Cut the onion finely and stew in the vegetable oil until soft. Add consecutively the peppers cut in stripes, the peas, the finely cut tomatoes, the red pepper and the flour. Stir and put in earthenware. Add the grated cheese, the finely chopped parsley and salt to your taste. Stir the meal and put in heated oven. A little before removing pour the yogurt and the beaten eggs. Add pieces of the butter, brown again and serve. ACCOMMODATION Spa resort with national importance specialized in of the treatment and prevention of the post traumatic conditions and orthopedic diseases. Pavel banya dispose of 1050 beds, allocated in 3 big hotels, several family hotels and houses. PROPHYLAXIS, REHABILITATION AND RECREATION JSC. The hotel disposes of fully built rehabilitation center, hotel with 399 beds, allocated in well-furnished single, double rooms and apartments with WC and terraces. The resort complex works all year round. The rehabilitation center is à modern medical center attached to the hotel. The medical center is situated on 2 floors, comprising all spa, rehabilitation and therapist units, dental surgery and X-ray apparatus, indoor swimming pool, solarium and sauna. MILLENIUM HOTEL COMPLEX is situated in the eastern part of the Pavel Banya resort. It is completely reconstructed and renovated and offers excellent opportunities for vacations, balneo treatment, relax and prophylactic procedures. It disposes of 3 apartments; 44 luxury furnished rooms; 15 rooms with separate bathroom, terrace and warm mineral water in every room. Medical centre with specialized medical personnel of doctors and therapists cares of the guests. It offers sports hall, paraffin treatment, underwater swift-flowing massage, underwater traction, dry massage, electro treatment, 2 swimming pools for underwater gymnastics. There is a cafe – bar, a restaurant with 90 seats, and an indoor swimming pool in the hotel complex, as well as a guarded parking lot and a park with a lot of greenery and grass plots SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL FOR REHABILITATION – National Complex PLC – Pavel Banya Branch has a capacity of 272 beds, allocated in 2 sectors and a modern base for treatment and rest with up-to-date apparatuses. The sanatorium is a part of the chain of the Specialized Hospitals for Rehabilitation, situated in the settlements with mineral baths that offer wonderful opportunities for combination of balneotherapy with recreation. It disposes of a modern base for treatment and rest, up-to-date apparatuses for diagnostics, and a medical staff of qualified specialists. There are single, double rooms with three beds and more, with own WC; luxury rooms with a fridge and cable TV, and double-room apartments. A 2-storey balneology building includes spa center, special rooms for paraffin and mud treatment, and for massages, electro- and light-treatment, modern nerve-physiologic laboratory, and sport hall for gymnastics, surgery and canteen. The major remedial factor is the hyper thermal mineral water. The hospital is specialized for rehabilitation of the diseases of the locomotory system and offers treatment of diseases of the peripheral nervous system, traumatic inflammatory disturbances and those of the central nervous system, degenerative neurological and joint diseases, orthopedic diseases, gynecological diseases. VARNA FAMILY HOTEL disposes of 14 double rooms with own WC, cable TV and local heating. Hotel facilities: coffee bar, children’s swimming pool and a parking lot. RUSSALKA HUT is located in Stara planina Mountain, on a large opening above the Valley of Tuzha River, at an elevation of 1110 m. It is supplied with electricity and water and has 40 beds, allocated in single, double and triple rooms. Close to Central Balkan National Park, opportunities for hiking tours. |
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