History

The fame of the healing waters found around the village of Banichan, municipality of Gotse Delchev goes back to Thracian times.

Tales still exist about the “Old Village” of Banichan which was probably built on the remains of the ancient Thracian village. At that time Old Village of Banichan was situated in picturesque “Teplica” near Pirin Spring’s water well of today.

In XII century the village of Banichan was famous for its public mineral baths, two churches and monastery. The monastery still exists today.

To protect the village from Turkish settlers during the Ottoman reign the local population decided to plug the wells with wool and the village was relocated deeper in the Pirin mountain.

It was not until 1967 that during a geological exploration in the area, the beneficial water in Teplica was rediscovered.