Bansko, once mainly a stockbreeding and travelling merchant community, has nowadays become a center of winter and summer tourism and Bulgarian properties sales. The Bansko resort is recommended by the experts as a good place both for the beginners and for experienced skiers. Bansko municipality is located in the place of a settlement that was inhabited in succession by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and Slavs. The remains of ancient fortresses, Thracian tumuli (tombs), medieval colonies, consecrated grounds, churches and chapels within the town testify to several historical eras.
The mountain peaks near the town, the numerous lakes and the old pine woods make it a popular site for recreation. In recent years, the town has gained international popularity after the start of the annual Bansko Jazz Festival and consequently the annual Bansko pop-star concert featuring top pop stars. The nearby village of Banya, located only 5 km from the town, is known for its 27 thermal mineral springs.
In the Old Town, about 4 km to the southwest of the town and in the Yulen site , there are some remains of ancient fortresses. Thracian burial mounds have also been discovered close to the Old Town site. The remains of the late medieval single-nave St. George and St. Elijah churches, monuments of culture, are to the southeast of Bansko.
While wandering through Bansko's quiet streets, you will find a sense of peacefulness that emanates from Pirin's peaks, which surround the town. The "Pirin National Park" is included in the UNESCO Convention for the Preservation of World Wildlife Heritage. The sheer faces, the high altitude slopes and vast lands are an excellent place for mountaineering, skiing and trekking.
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