Bulgaria Inside

The town of Vurshets is situated in Montana region, in the foot of Stara Planina Mountain. Its population is 6638 people.

The distance between Vurshets and Sofia is about 90 km, if you decide to travel through Petrohan pass or 130 km if you use Hemus highway. Vurshets is situated 33 km away from both Montana and Vratsa.

Ceramic dishes discovered in the area give archaeologists some information about the past of the region. These date back to the third millennium BC and have been displayed in Vurshets.

A fortress still stands south of Vurshets, above Zanozhenie district. There is no marked path leading to the fortress. The fortification dates back to Roman times.

Vurshets is famous for its mineral springs that have turned it into the biggest spa resort of northern Bulgaria. Combined with the mild climate, the mineral water is suitable for healing various diseases.

In 1850, Vurshets was named a spa resort after a local by the name of Dimitur Loukchov experienced the healing power of the mineral water.

The activities of doctor Damian Ivanov turned Vurshets into the first popular Bulgarian spa resort in the beginning of the 20th century. Ivanov created the resort following European models and turned Vurshets into the favorite place of the Sofia elite.

Vurshets got its typical looks during that period. The first public mineral bath was created in 1910. Bulgaria’s second biggest artificial park was created there. It features pine trees and specially brought exotic species.

The main street features typical for the period villas, most of which have seen renovation works.

One of the first casinos in Bulgaria was created in Vurshets. It was called the royal casino, as members of the royal family used to visit it. One of the first beauty pageants in Bulgaria took place there in 1938.

After 1944, Vurshets slowly started transforming into a mass resort. Several hotel complexes were constructed and the town saw annual tourist flow exceeding 200 000 people. Visitors often rented villas and houses.

St. George church is one of the town’s landmarks. Its size is impressive, just like the architecture. Church construction took place between 1902 and 1906.

A number of monuments can be explored as well. The biggest one is connected to the September Uprising.

The vicinities of the town feature beautiful places for walks and rests. Vodopada region is one of the must-sees.

Several mountain paths start near the town. From Vurshets, hiking lovers can reach Todorini Koukli peak, Biala Voda hut and several Stara Planina caves.
Vurshets has its tourism information center where tourists can rent bikes. The town also has several tennis courts.

Accommodation opportunities abound. Vurshets has two and three-star hotels, as well as smaller family-type hotels. To learn more, it might be a good idea to contact the town’s tourism information center