Pavel Banya (4000 inhabitants, 350 m above the sea level) is a town 185 km away from Sofia and 86 km from Plovdiv. It boasts a balneological water centre of national and international importance. The resort is situated near the geographic centre of the country, in the unique Valley of Roses, between the Balkan Range and Sredna Gora Mountain. It is easily reachable by car, train or bus. The remains of an ancient village prove that the town was used for hydrotherapy in ancient times. There are 9 hydrothermal sources. Seven of them have similar characteristics (temperature of 50-61 C) with a low mineral content. The water contains hydro-carbonate-sodium, is slightly alkaline and, at the same time, has a mild to high fluorine content. There are 2 sources with non-radon waters, which give the possibility for individual treatment of each patient.
     The climate of Pavel Banya is transitional continental with a moderate warm summer and a snowless winter. This creates conditions for hydrotherapy work during the whole year, combined with climate treatment. The resort has established itself as a remedial and rehabilitation centre for treating diseases of the motor system, orthopaedic ones, traumas and disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system.

     History

     Historical data on the settlement is scarce but excavations brought to light remains of a Roman bath and an ancient Christian church, which seem to indicate that local mineral waters were in active use as early as the days of the Roman Empire. 
 
     Present

     Pavel Banya owes its popularity to the healing mineral waters it is endowed with. They spring from 7 natural and artificial wells, at temperature of some 63 C. Most of the waters are fluoride, slightly mineralized. The high content of fluoride and metasilicon acid, as well as the expressed hyperthermality has good healing effect on a number of joint diseases. Such water is excellent for healing inflammations, chronic rheumatism, arthritis, the Bekhterev syndrome, post-traumatic and orthopedic conditions, post bone-fracture states, inborn problems of the pelvis joints. Treatment results have been particularly effective in case of deformations resulting from spine problems and the peripheral nervous system, discopathic states of all kinds, diseases of the central nervous system, gynaecological problems.

     Transport

     There are buses every hour to and from Kazanlak and bus lines to Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sevlievo and Stara Zagora. The bus station is in the centre of the town from where regular plus private buses connect the town with the railway station, which is four and half kilometers out of town. The railway station is a stop along the Sofia-Karlovo-Bourgas railway of 8 fast and 10 regular trains.

     Surroundings

     2 km west one will find Dabravata. Extremely soothing to the heart and the coronary system as well as the lungs with a long proved healing effect. 2 km south is the spring, the waters of which have a most healing effect on the secretory system. In the village of Turia (4 km south) is the birthplace and house of the Bulgarian writer Chudomir. There is a branch of Kazanlak Art Gallery in the neighbouring Tarnichane. Some 10 km to the south, on the way to Plovdiv, one can see a rare natural phenomenon – Kichest Gabar (hornbeam tree), now 160 year old. Pavel Banya is the starting point of numerous tourist tracks, which lead throughout Stara Planina (Balkan Range) and Sredna Gora Mountain.