Dolna Banya

Dolna Banya
Долна баня
Dolna Banya square with the clock-tower and the Library
Dolna Banya square with the clock-tower and the Library
Dolna Banya is located in Bulgaria
Dolna Banya
Dolna Banya
Location of Dolna banya
Coordinates: 42°17′N 23°46′E / 42.283°N 23.767°E / 42.283; 23.767
CountryBulgaria
Provinces
(Oblast)
Sofia
Government
Elevation
643 m (2,110 ft)
Population
 (13.09.2005)
 • Total5,667
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
2040
Area code07120

Dolna Banya, also Dolna Banja or Dolna Bania (Bulgarian: Долна баня) is a town located in Sofia Province in southwestern Bulgaria. 75 km from Sofia and Plovdiv, Dolna Banya is located in the Kostenets–Dolna Banya Valley by the north-eastern slopes of the Rila Mountains, 18 and 30 km respectively from the ski resorts of Borovets and Samokov. Dolna Banya is a resort town, known for its hot mineral waters, with temperatures of 56.3 C. The area surrounding the town is largely agricultural, and there are skiing and hiking trails in the nearby mountains.

Dolna Banya is a small, lively town. The square has a vegetable market, bakery, and two bars. The inside of the town's Bulgarian Orthodox church is covered in murals, and the churchyard located next to a stream. The local stadium is named Vasil Levski, a tribute to the leader of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire and the national stadium of the same name in Sofia.

Dolna Banya is accessible by road, and a daily bus runs from the Sofia bus depot through other villages in the area. However, buses run more frequently from Sofia to Kostenets (8 km from Dolna Banya). From Kostenets transportation is available every 30 minutes to Dolna Banya. Trains also run about every hour between Sofia and Kostenets.

In June 2005, Ibar Golf Club announced that a 20m Euro golf course would be constructed in Dolna Banya. Construction began in the fall of 2005 and is set for completion in 2007.[needs update] It is expected to be the only golf course in Eastern Europe to meet PGA standards.[citation needed]