About the bath
This was the first medical building in Bulgaria equipped with technical installations that were modern for their time.
With its distinctive architecture, it is the most characteristic building of the resort, and the image of Bankya is forever linked with it. In its day it was one of the few baths of its kind in Europe – a true architectural gem: a foyer measuring 11 by 11 metres with a beautiful vault, rooms for physiotherapy, a doctor's office, and pools of 6.30 by 6.30 metres. Each section had 10 bathtubs, two of them for the royal family. The materials for the interior, including glass bricks, were brought specially for the bath from Belgium, France and Vienna. All the pools, stone basins (kurni) and bathtubs are clad in Italian marble and mosaic. The offices, doors and floors are of Slavonian oak.
The Bankya mineral bath was designed by the Bavarian architect Karl Hocheder, under the direction of architect Neno Neshev, with the builders the Savov brothers from Sofia and Nikola Rangelov from Bankya. Construction of the Great Bath began in 1907 with funding of 1 million gold leva. In 2004 the bath was closed for reconstruction. Restoration of the Royal Bath began in 2018, and today it can be visited again.
Unfortunately, for now the bath does not work as a traditional bath with a women's and a men's section, as its creators intended, but as a spa centre.
Opening hours
| Every day | 09:00–20:00 |
|---|
ⓘ The table was made automatically from the text of the Bulgarian Association for Thermal Heritage and may contain mistakes; opening hours and prices may also have changed. Call +359886700667 before you go.
Photos 20
Photos: Bulgarian Association for Thermal Heritage. All rights belong to their authors.
More information
The water and its healing properties
You can find all the benefits of the water on this website (https://baniata.net/)
In its chemical composition, the mineral water of Bankya is a true natural treasure. It is clear, colourless, odourless, soft and exceptionally pleasant to drink. The mineral water has a general tonic effect, and it relieves pain, reduces inflammation and allergic reactions, supports tissue nourishment, relaxes spasms and has an osmotic action.
It also helps with metabolic disorders, conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and the musculoskeletal system, endocrine disorders, and general physical and mental fatigue. Besides being taken internally for treatment, the mineral water is also used externally in balneotherapy procedures, with a very good effect on health.
- Built
- Around 1911
- Architect
- Karl Hocheder, architect
- Ownership
- Sofia Municipality
- Operated by
- “Sofiyski Imoti” EAD
- Thermal Heritage register no.
- 22
- Information updated
- 03.2026
The bath's page at the Bulgarian Association for Thermal Heritage ↗