Varshets

For the Serbian city, see Vršac.
Varshets

The former Royal Spa Casino.
Varshets

Location of Varshets

Coordinates: 43°10′58.8″N 23°16′58.8″E / 43.183000°N 23.283000°E / 43.183000; 23.283000Coordinates: 43°10′58.8″N 23°16′58.8″E / 43.183000°N 23.283000°E / 43.183000; 23.283000
Country Bulgaria
Provinces
(Oblast)		 Montana
Elevation 395 m (1,296 ft)
Population (31.12.2009[1])
 • Total 6,538
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code 3540
Area code(s) 09527

Varshets (Bulgarian: Вършец, variously transliterated) is a spa town in Montana Province, northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Varshets Municipality. As of December 2009, its population is 6,538.[1] The town is located on the northern slopes of the western part of the Balkan mountains in the small valley of the Botunya River, at 43°12′N 23°17′E / 43.200°N 23.283°E / 43.200; 23.283, 359 metres above sea level. One of the oldest and most popular resorts in northern Bulgaria, it is famous for its curative mineral springs, mild mountain climate, beautiful scenery and a large well-kept park. The town has an excellent tourist infrastructure. There are two spa centres, a polyclinic, numerous 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.

The city's surroundings
St. George Church

Honour

Varshets Saddle on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after Varshets.

Famous people

Balneology

Varshets, the renovated Spa center

Other

"Varshets" is also the name of the famous paleontological locality of Middle Villafranchian (Late Pliocene) fauna and flora near the village of Dolno Ozirovo in the vicinities of the town of Varshets.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 (English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute – Bulgarian towns in 2009
  2. ↑ 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.
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