Varshets ( bg, Вършец, variously transliterated; ) is a

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

town in Montana Province, northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous

Varshets Municipality Varshets Municipality ( bg, Община Вършец) is a municipality ('' obshtina'') in Montana Province, Northwestern Bulgaria, located on the northern slopes of the western Stara planina mountain to the area of the so-called Fore-Balkan. It ...

. As of December 2019, its population is 5,444.Bulgarian National Statistical Institute – Bulgarian towns in 2019
/ref> The town is located on the northern slopes of the western part of the

Balkan mountains The Balkan mountain range (, , known locally also as Stara planina) is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. The range is conventionally taken to begin at the peak of Vrashka Chuka on the border betw ...

in the small valley of the Botunya River, at , 359 metres above sea level. It is one of the oldest resorts in northern Bulgaria, and is known for its mineral springs, mild mountain climate, and natural environment. The town's tourist infrastructure includes two spa centres, a polyclinic, several rest houses, hotels and also many private lodgings. Varshets has an art gallery, a municipal museum and an Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George. A 2nd century BC bronze sculpture of a Thracian boy found in the vicinity of the town is today a symbol of Varshets. The modern town is linked to ''Medeca'', a Roman and Byzantine site first mentioned in the 6th century AD. Varshets' existence was also evidenced in 16th century documents. The first state baths in Varshets were built in 1910 and were run by Damyan Ivanov, a balneologist who specialized in Austria-Hungary. The New Baths were built in 1930, and the Sun Garden was arranged in 1934. In 1950, Varshets was proclaimed a national resort. Vurshetz-view

Places named after Varshets

Varshets Saddle Varshets Saddle ( bg, седловина Вършец, ‘Sedlovina Varshets’ \se-dlo-vi-'na v&r-'shets\) is a saddle of elevation 1430 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica bounded by Antim Peak to the sout ...

on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after Varshets. "Varshets" is also the name of the paleontological locality of Middle Villafranchian (Late Pliocene) fauna and flora near the village of Dolno Ozirovo close to the town of Varshets.Boev, Z. 1995. Middle Villafranchian birds from Varshets (Western Balkan Range – Bulgaria). – In: Peters, D. (ed.). Acta palaeornithologica. 3. Symposium SAPE. 5. Internat. Senckenberg-Konferenz 22–26 Juni 1992. – Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. Frankfurt a. M., 181: 259–269.

Notable people

Lachezar Stanchev Latchezar Stantchev ( bg, Лъчезар Станчев) is a Bulgarian poet who first became well-known in the 1930s. He is also a well-known translator, journalist, and publisher of children's magazines. He was born on September 12, 1908 in the ...

, a poet born in Villa Nezabravka.

References

External links

Varshets.info – news information site of Varshets

Varshets.com – Varshets business site (in Bulgarian only)

(archived) {{Authority control Towns in Bulgaria Populated places in Montana Province Spa towns in Bulgaria