Municipality of Sapareva Banya

The municipality of Sapareva Banya has a varied relief - from flat to high mountain. Its population is about 7500 people, primarily Bulgarians. It covers 5 settlements, one of which is the resort Panichishte, which belongs to the land of Sapareva Banya.

Due to the specifics of the sites (including national park), the municipality has coordinating functions. TIC – Sapareva Banya has been established.

The oldest known name of the town of Sapareva Banya is Germany. There is a theory that this name comes from the Thracian language and means "hot water". There is ample evidence of the Thracian origin of the settlement and the use of hot mineral water. During the Ottoman rule, the area developed as agricultural and pastoral, and the village was divided into two parts - one around the mineral springs and the other – to the field. During the Liberation, Saparevo and Banya were one village, then Banya was renamed Gorna Banya – a name it bore until 1943. Sapareva Banya has been a municipal centre since 1983.

On the territory of the Municipality of Sapareva Banya are located sites such as Panichishte, the Seven Rila Lakes and part of the Rila National Park, the Skakavitsa reserve, waterfalls, etc.

Under the project "Balneological tourism – the future of health", a Strategy for joint and sustainable development of tourism in the municipality of Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria and the municipality of Sokobanja, Serbia