The city of Sandanski is famous of its pure mountain air coming down from Pirin mountain (the second highest in Bulgaria). People come to this area for treatment of all sorts of lung and heart problems especially asthma. At the beginning of April there will be spring already with many flourishing trees as the place is far to the south.
The hotel is located out of the main city, just next to a famous park whose 100th anniversary will turn this year (created back in 1916) with thousands of various trees of all energy types. It is an amazing place for the morning walks and trees practice. The sycamore trees (fire element) deserve particular attention as I cannot touch my hands if I try to embrace most of them. Apparently they lived around even before the park creation as we can see plenty of them also out of the park.
The Pirin Mountains (Bulgarian: Пирин, Thracian Greek: Oρβηλος, Orbelos, “snow-white mountain”) are a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria, with Vihren (2,914 m high) the highest peak, situated at41°45′50″N 23°25′30″E. The range extends about 40 km northwest-southeast, and about 25 km wide. Most of the range is protected in the Pirin National Park. The mountain is named after Perun (Cyrillic: Перун), the highest god of the Slavic pantheon and the god of thunder and lightning.
Sandanski is located in the Sandanski-Petrich Valley, surrounded by the Pirin, Belasitsa, Ogragden and other smaller range of mountains. The town is about 160 km south from Bulgaria’s capital Sofia along the major European Route E79. Following the same route at almost the same distance is Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city.
Sandanski has developed in an amphitheatrical fashion on the outer south-west flanks of Pirin Mountains along the lower reaches of Sandanska Bistritsa River. Town’s altitude is 240–300 meters. Its geographical location between Kresna and Rupel Gorges helps for town’s mild winter temperatures. Statistically Sandanski has the warmest temperatures in Bulgaria with a total of around 2700 annual sunshine hours.
Within a short drive from Sandanski is Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria in terms of population, but attractive tourist destination for its authentic architecture and wine production. In a close proximity are the village of Rozhen and Rozhen Monastery.