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Bankya

Coordinates: 42°42′N 23°8′E / 42.700°N 23.133°E / 42.700; 23.133
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Not to be confused with Bankia.
Bankya
Банкя
Bankya, with Sofia and Vitosha Mountain in the background
Bankya, with Sofia and Vitosha Mountain in the background
Bankya is located in Bulgaria
Bankya
Bankya
Location of Bankya
Coordinates: 42°42′N 23°8′E / 42.700°N 23.133°E / 42.700; 23.133
CountryBulgaria
Province
(Oblast)		Sofia city
Government
 • MayorRangel Markov
Elevation
695 m (2,280 ft)
Population
 (15.03.2015)
 • Total11 667
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
1320
Area code02997

Bankya (Template:Lang-bg) is a small town located on the outskirts of Sofia[1] in western Bulgaria. It is administratively part of Greater Sofia.

The district is famous for the mineral springs and baths that have been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. In 1969 the village of Bankya was proclaimed a town, and in 1979 it became part of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

Bankya is 5 km west of capital Sofia. It is situated at the foot of Lyulin Mountain at an average elevation of around 630–750 meters. The first people to populate the region of Bankya were Thracian tribes, over 2500 years ago. Archaeological excavations near the quarter of Ivanyane have unearthed remains of Ancient Roman buildings, walls and sewers, and bronze bracelets from the 4th–5th century. Bankya's economy depends mainly on tourism and balneological treatment.

The Mineral Baths in Bankya

Bankya was first mentioned as Banka in the 15th century. The former villages of Verdikal, Gradoman and Mihaylovo are part of the town itself, while Ivanyane and Klisura are part of the municipality. Bankya's name stems from the common noun bankya, "hot spring", a diminutive of banya ("baths").[2]

Bankya is the birthplace of the founder of GERB – Boyko Borisov, former and current Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and of rapper SOS

Places of interest

  • "Vazov's Oak", Ivan Vazov's favourite resting place.
  • The Church of Martyrs Quiricus and Julietta, built in 1932 and inaugurated by bishop Stephen from Sofia.
  • The Mineral Baths in Bankya, built in 1907 – 1910 to the design of Munich architect Carl Hocheder.

Honour

Bankya Peak on Graham Land in Antarctica is named after the town.

References

  1. ^ "District Mayors". Sofia Municipality. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  2. ^ Чолева-Димитрова, Анна М. (2002). Селищни имена от Югозападна България: Изследване. Речник (in Bulgarian). София: Пенсофт. p. 117. ISBN 954-642-168-5. OCLC 57603720.
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