Bansko

Bansko is a unique town of international tourist significance. Besides the beautiful Pirin and numerous natural monuments, the town is also rich of its historical regions and cultural landmarks. The remains of antique fortresses in the region of Staroto Gradishte (Sitinkale), around 4 km southeast from the town, and in the region of Yulen have been preserved. Near Staroto Gradishte (the Old Town), there are Thracian sepulchral mounds. A set of bronze medical instruments and remainders of medicines have been found near the century-old region of Dobrokyovitza (west of Bansko). There are over 150 cultural monuments in Bansko. Five of them are of national importance, including the Velyanova house, which has been turned into an architectural – ethnographic museum. It is famous, because it is the most original house in Bansko since the Revival period (the end of XVIII th – beginning of XIX th century), preserved till nowadays. The house was given from the local people to Master Velian Ognev. He decorated the house from the inside and from the outside. Its marvelous decoration turned it into a work of art. The two – storey house was built only from stone and wood, it was modern for its period. It has two connected hiding – places and 5 rooms with veranda on each floor. Special value have the murals in the “Blue room”, the wood – carving on the veranda, the geometrical and vegetative motifs in the southeast room. There is an ethnographic exhibition on the ground floor.