Can Bansko Stay Bansko?

In this week’s Buzz:

• Anyone interested in a football fantasy league in Bansko?

• Bansko attracting many remote workers and digital nomads to call the town home

• Bansko first municipality in the country to integrate artificial intelligence

• Average salary in Bulgaria rises by nearly 10% in a year

• Bansko Opera Fest returns to town this coming weekend

• Last chance to take in some demonstrations of traditions and handcrafts

• Charity Pickleball Tournament taking place at the weekend

• Info on new businesses shared in The Beehive

• Fuel price jumps by 22% in Bulgaria (one of the highest in the EU)

The town is seen as a remote-work success story, but some residents wonder what that growth is changing

This week, I read a few articles about the challenge of rural depopulation and remote working.

One I read set out why Bansko has been able to attract remote workers and digital nomads, and how the town sets a good example for other countries in the European Union to attract remote workers and employer organisations to rural areas (the scope of an EU project known as Danube4Rural.com).

However, the article acknowledges that Bansko had a head start over other rural towns: already being a winter ski resort attracting tourists, as well as a town where people have lived for centuries.

Other factors undoubtedly helped Bansko: an abundance of accommodation available for sale or to rent, and a solid internet infrastructure: one that would put a lot of Western European cities to shame. It works, it’s reliable, and it’s fast (even when you’re on the mountain!). It’s one of the things that remote workers and digital nomads often mention when talking about the town to others.

Comparing Bansko to other places, in my opinion, is like comparing oranges and bananas. They’re both fruit and both tasty, but completely different to one another. So too are other rural towns in the EU: they can’t necessarily follow the same path as Bansko.

One line near the end of the article stuck with me. Teodora moved to Bansko from Sofia in 2023, and says: "With the ever-increasing influx of people bringing their urban habits with them, the atmosphere of the city is changing. It calls into question the very reasons we moved here in the first place." Whether more people start to feel the same way as the town grows is anyone’s guess, but it’s worth watching.

And I completely understand where she’s coming from. I’m guessing lots of us moved to Bansko, bought a place, visit often, or always found ourselves coming back because… well, Bansko is Bansko. And I think you know exactly what that means: it’s why, whenever you’re out of town, coming back always feels comforting: the mountains, the air, the place.

We’re all different, but I think we can all agree that no matter what brought you here in the first place, one thing that helps bring us all together is the community, the people. Something that the coming “AI Revolution” can’t replicate anytime soon 😉.

Here’s the article if you want to have a read. [Translation required.]

Altspace Coworking: Work. Thrive. Belong.

Our community bridges the gap between the local Bansko community and working online. We bring people together by challenging each other on Side Hustle Day, enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, painting & sipping wine, or talking about everything and nothing at Friday Beers.

Join a community and coworking space that offers the right work-life balance.

👉️ READ MORE ABOUT US

Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 102 New Posts, 💬 345 Comments, 👍️ 1,664 Reactions

Who’s interested in a fantasy football league in Bansko?
Alex wants to create a fantasy football league with the English Premier League about to start. Want to take part? Head through and leave a comment on the post.

Trying to understand the postal system here
Neils has been in Bulgaria for over six months and has never received any mail through the post. He’s wondering what he needs to do to receive it, other than calling the post office.

What are some local, authentic things to do in the area?
Max is interested in taking part in some authentic activities in the local area, like cooking workshops, guided walks, and making crafts. See what people suggested.

I’ve seen a few posts about aggressive dogs recently. Have things got worse?
John has been coming to Bansko since 2004 and has seen a few recent posts about aggressive or dangerous dogs in Bansko. He wanted to know if the posts in the group were real or just a little overreaction. See what people said.

Bansko & Beyond

Local municipality makes changes to warning signs in park areas
The local municipality in Bansko has added some more signs to public areas covering what dog owners/walkers should do when walking a dog in parks and green spaces in town. The signage has been slightly updated to clarify the points raised in the group (highlighted in Buzz issue #104). Read more.

Bansko Municipality supports ethical use of artificial intelligence
The local municipality has joined a national scheme to adopt a code of ethics for its use of artificial intelligence in local government business and data. Bansko says it is the first municipality in the country to introduce AI into its work. Read more.

Young biathletes from Bansko have strong start to the season
Last weekend in the Rila Mountains, young biathletes from Bansko took part in the Rila Build Commerce Cup. The competitors from Bansko came away with four gold medals, two silver and two bronze, across different age ranges and abilities. Read more.

Other news stories
Here are a handful of other news stories you may find interesting:

• Fuel price jumps by 22% in Bulgaria: among biggest rise across the EU

• Total cost of driving lessons & tests may soon be on the increase [Translation required]

• Powerful GPS jammer found & neutralised near Sofia Airport

• Bulgaria’s average salary rises nearly 10% in a year

• US extends Lukoil deadline, affecting Bulgarian oil assets

• New law being put forward to crack down on antisocial behaviour by minors

Recommended Businesses

Get the inside scoop on Bansko. Want to know what isn’t shared in the newsletter or in the Facebook group? Join the Beehive.

Shop online & receive packages delivered to Bansko with GGBG. Regular journeys from the UK, Germany and the USA to Bulgaria. See website for info.

Travelling outside of your home country this year? Get travel insurance designed by travellers. True Traveller: one policy to cover all of your activities. Learn more.

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Events Next Week

Bansko Street Dogs Pub Quiz
Tomorrow (Monday 24th) is the Bansko Street Dogs pub quiz at The Avalon. The quiz starts at 7.30pm with Asian snacks/bites served. Entry fee is 15€ per person (includes quiz entry and food). More info.

Pirin Under The Stars
On Monday (24th) and Tuesday (25th), join Plamen Gonev Visuals for an adventurous two days filled with beautiful views, starry skies, sunrise over the mountain, and practical lessons in mobile photography. Price 60€. More info. [Translation required].

Exhibitions at The Tourist Information Center
These run most days from 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 6pm at the Tourist Information Center (near the old tree). An abstract art exhibition called Touch (by Asen Kirov) continues on Monday and Tuesday. Then, from Friday (28th) to Tuesday 1st, Nina Tsvetomir and Latchezar Dzholevi display their painting exhibition (Joleff Art).

Main Event: Bansko Opera Fest
Happening over three evenings this week (published start time 8.30pm in the main square). Thursday (27th) is The Parisian Virgin, which combines scenography, costumes, choreography and 3D mapping to tell the story of Victor Hugo (in French). Friday (28th) sees "Don Pasquale", noted as one of the most beloved comic operas in the world bel canto repertoire (American tenor Samuel Robertson with the Vienna State Opera and the Leipzig Opera). Saturday (29th) will see an opera-operetta gala with a number of performers alongside the orchestra of the Varna State Opera. [The event is free. VIP seating for a fee.] More info. [Translation required.]

National Folklore Festival (Banya)
On Friday (28th), Saturday (29th), and Sunday (30th) is the 9th National Folklore Festival in Banya. The festival brings together guardians of folklore from across Bulgaria through amateur ensembles, singing and dancing groups, musicians, storytellers, and performers of folk humour as the village of Banya becomes a stage of Bulgarian heritage. More info.

Demonstration of Local Trade & Handcrafts
Outside the Tourist Information Center between 5pm and 7pm are wood carving (Friday) and Art School (Saturday). Live folk music between 6pm and 6.30pm on Saturday only (see the singers perform here). These are the final demonstrations of the summer calendar.

Charity Pickleball Tournament
On Saturday (29th) and Sunday (30th) at the Forestry High School tennis courts off Bulgaria Street (here), Bansko’s first Pickleball Tournament is taking place to raise money for the "Zdravets" Day Center for children and youth with disabilities. Doubles and mixed doubles are welcome to take part, and the tournament format will be a group stage (round robin) followed by eliminations. Participation fee 10€ (all proceeds to charity). Registration by Tuesday (25th). More info. [Translation required.]

Magazine 8 Live Forum
On Saturday (29th) at 11am, Magazine 8 will bring together individuals in the large hall of the main theatre in town for a forum to discuss (in Bulgarian) freedom, Bulgarian roots, awareness, cognition, and personal development. Ticket price 23€. More info. [Translation required.]

Regular Weekly Events in Summer

Check with individual organisers/venues as event details may change.

• Mondays: Group fitness; Bear Functional Training at 8am

• Tuesdays: Run Club (5km); 6.30pm at Altspace (Central)

• Tuesdays: Chess club; 7.30pm at Dobrinishte Chess Club

• Wednesdays: no recommended events on this day

• Thursdays: Speak Bulgarian Social Club; Anita’s Art Studio at 6.30pm

• Thursdays: Pool competition; Tipsy 360 at 7pm

• Thursdays: Live music; ZZ Land Play Cafe from 7pm

• Fridays: Beers at Altspace (Summit); 6pm to 8pm (BYOB)

• Fridays: Latin dance party; DiVino from 9.30pm

• Fridays: Karaoke at Tipsy 360; 8pm to 11pm

• Saturdays: BSD’s Saturday Sale; 10am to 2pm

• Saturdays: Board games night at Treehouse Social; 7pm

• Saturdays: BBQ Evenings; Kempinski Hotel, 7pm to 10pm

• Sundays: Free walking tour; under the old tree at 11am

• Sundays: Cornhole competition; Pivoteka at 4pm

Planning Further Ahead?

Here is a list of events/festivals happening over the rest of the summer.

• 5, 6 & 7 September: Unique Bansko (culinary festival). More info. [Cyrillic]

• 10 to 13 September: Pirin Ultra (running competition; registration ends 24th of August). More info. [Cyrillic]

• 12 September: With a fishing rod, not a phone (Razlog). More info.

• 19 September: Chess Festival (Dobrinishte). More info. [Cyrillic]

Organising an event in or around Bansko? Submit it for consideration here.

Photo of the Week

A view of the new sports facilities/gardens near Drink Market.

Follow @banskobuzz on Instagram.

Before You Go…

p.s. The Bansko Opera Fest is your last chance at a dedicated music festival on the main stage as part of the summer events programme. If you’re in town, stop by and take in the music.