Varshets lies at the foot of the Western Stara Planina and brings together mineral water, parkland and bathing history. This gives the town several distinct points of interest: you can explore the properties of the water and local balneology, put historic bath buildings in their historical context, or focus on park paths and landscaped grounds. Nearby Zeleni del, southwest of the town, also offers an area for excursions. You can organize this combination around your interests: cultural history, green spaces and activities in the surrounding area provide distinct themes for your plans.
Mineral Water and Bathing History
The mineral water in Varshets is hyperthermal. It has a temperature of 38 °C, a pH of 8.4 and a total mineralization of 0.19 g/l. These figures give the subject of balneology a concrete profile: temperature, pH and mineralization describe different properties of the water. If you are considering a specific application, its suitability should be assessed independently.
The Old Mineral Bath opened in 1910 and was Bulgaria’s first mineral bath. Its architecture is modeled on the baths of Baden-Baden. The New Mineral Bath opened in 1930. Between these two opening dates is the Bath Casino: it was built in 1922 and is also known as the Royal Casino. The building can currently only be viewed from the outside.
Park Paths and Landscaped Grounds
The town park stretches from the center to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Its well-maintained paths total more than 7 km and are used for sports and health-related activities. The distance refers to the paths as a whole, so for planning purposes it should be understood as the size of the path network, not the length of a single route.
An artificial park in Varshets covers 800 decares and is considered the second-largest in Bulgaria. Sunny Garden offers a different design feature: it was laid out in 1934 and has stone avenues arranged in the shape of sun rays, reflecting sunlight. Thus, information about the size of a park sits alongside a specific detail of garden design.
Museum and Excursions in the Surrounding Area
The History Museum – Varshets has four departments: Antiquity, archaeological finds and coins, balneology, and ethnography. It brings together local history and topics that also help put the town’s bathing history in context. Guided conversations are offered exclusively in Bulgarian; bear this language requirement in mind if you plan to take part in one.
Zeleni del is 10 km southwest of Varshets and is a starting point for the ascent of Todorini Kukli. The area is also suitable for picnics, excursions and camping. Unlike the town park, the focus here is not on a path network, but on the ascent and opportunities for picnics, excursions and camping. This makes it possible to consider activities in town and in the nearby surrounding area as distinct options.
Practical Information
The Varshets Tourist Information Centre provides information about sports, balneotherapy, tourism and entertainment. Bicycles, tents and fishing rods can be rented there; mountain guides are also available. If you would like to include rentals or mountain guide services in your plans, check their current availability before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Bukovets, Lom, Montana, Boychinovtsi, Chiprovtsi.
Return to the regional travel overview: Montana Province.
