Saturday 28 May 2011

About Sofia Central Mineral Baths/ Zentralni mineralni bani

Sofia Central Mineral Baths

Sofia (as well as my whole country Bulgaria) is blessed with tons of natural mineral water sources. In the area of Sofia there are around 50 of them. The water comes from very deep, which garantees that is ecologically clean. One differ 8 completely different mineral water sorts (depending on mineral ingredients). "Zentralni bani" ("Sofia Central Mineral Baths") are located down town and should not be missed. You can drink from the hot mineral water taps, or even better you bring an empty plastic bottle and fill it for later. You will see a lot of locals doing the same (in big bottles) as the mineral water has great healing effect too....

Sofia Central Mineral Baths

The building of the Sofia Central Mineral Baths (in yellow behind the fountain) has been refurbished for the last few years. Before this it was used as the city's public baths until 1986. Public baths have existed in Sofia at least as early as the 16th century. During his visit to Sofia in 1553–1555, Austrian traveller Hans Dernschwam noted the presence of one large bath and two smaller baths on either side of the city!

Sofia Central Mineral Baths

The building was designed in the Vienna Secession style, but contains also typically Bulgarian, Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox ornamental elements.

Sofia Central Mineral Baths

Next to Zentralni bani one may find several posters of old post cards from Sofia as a decoration hiding one building place:-)

Sofia

6 comments:

betchai said...

oh wow, how i wish we have lots of mineral drinking water here too to refill like yours, that's awesome to know, and the building and the fountain looks beautiful.

FilipBlog said...

Looks like a very interesting building.

papillon said...

Sofia is really a very interesting city with some for us unknown surprises...
J+C

Unknown said...

Hoi Jana
Mineraalwater...Zuiver water..
Een soort Amsterdamse waterleidingduinen..Maar daar moet het water eerst nog naar de fabriek..om 27 handelingen te ondergaan..voordat het drinkbaar is.
Water (goed water) is een zegen.
Gr Henk

Roj said...

This is very informative...I'll take note if someday Ican visit your dear country...

Jana said...

thank u dear all for the visit and comments!
@Henk:the mineral water once out of the ground ( as it comes from very deep and its is already filtered and clean) can be just bottled, so no 27 treatments processes as in the AWD....