In this week’s Buzz:
- Demyanitsa Hut sees new owner take over
- Where do I find information about power cuts in Bansko?
- Pre-Halloween candle party on Saturday
- Is drink driving increasing in Bansko?
- New “baby choir” launched at local community centre
- Kempinski Hotel celebrates twenty years with gourmet meal event
Are Bulgaria’s police seizing vehicles unlawfully?
This month, the CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union) in Luxembourg is hearing a case brought by a Bulgarian on whether it is lawful for police forces across the country to confiscate motor vehicles for certain traffic offences.
Most of these traffic offences relate to a driver being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but these vehicles have supposedly been seized without evidence of the offence committed.
With Bulgaria’s legal system being very slow to resolve cases and certain parts of Bulgarian law seeming to be in contradiction to many other EU countries’ laws on this topic, it’ll be interesting to see what the judgment will be. If it’s ruled as unlawful and thus becomes a change in law, then every EU country will need to adopt it. These types of changes then apply retroactively.
In an article linked to in the email version of the Buzz, you could read an explanation of the case and how the possible outcome could be incompatible with current Bulgarian law. (In her bio, the author says she is a faculty member in the law department at New Bulgarian University; however, her name does not appear on the faculty’s website.)
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Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group
✍️ 54 New Posts, 💬 121 Comments, 👍️ 469 Reactions
How Do I Find Information About The Power cuts in Bansko?
Annabel asked whether there was a place online where you can check when power is going to be restored during a power cut. See where people said to check.
I’m Looking For An Excellent Carpenter
Klara posted that she’s looking to create a great kitchen in her apartment and wanted recommendations for a great carpenter. See who people suggested.
Where Are The Most Affordable Car Rental Places?
John is coming to town in the next few weeks and wondered if there were any car rental shops open in the area. See where people suggested.
Why Isn’t The Municipality Repairing This?
Preslav posted about the glass being broken on a book borrowing cabinet in town, and said that he’d already brought it up with the municipality. It looks as though local Banskalis didn’t like the fact that he didn’t take on the repair work himself.
Local/Municipality News
Mobile Hazardous Waste Collection Point
On Wednesday (15th), from 10am to 4pm, the local municipality has set up a household hazardous waste collection point for anyone in the local area who has some. This will be located in Macedonia Square (location). Read more.
Demyanitsa Hut Gets New Owners
This week, it was announced that Demyanitsa Hut management was transferred to its new owner, Damian Terziyski. The hut is located above Bansko and offers a place to stay as well as a rest stop for hikers. Read more.
Fourth Red Angel Delivered to Bulgaria
This week, the fourth Red Angel (emergency helicopters part of HEMS) was delivered. This one will be located in Dolna Mitropolia, which is in the north of the country near Pleven. Its addition won’t have a direct impact on Bansko, as the HEMS called on is usually dispatched from Sofia. Read more.
Ten Medalists in Local Bansko Cup
Last weekend, the El Tepe Bansko Cup competition took place in Bansko. There were nearly 90 competitors from seven clubs who took part, and the local Bansko club (Ski Club El Tepe) took home ten medals, with a total of thirteen distinctions for top placements. Read more.
Hotels in Bansko See Bookings for New Year’s at 50% Full
Despite the higher prices charged over the New Year period, lots of hotels in Bansko are reporting that they are now half full for the period. On average, a three-day all-inclusive package for two people costs 2,800 BGN or more, but the price doesn’t seem to have put people off booking. Read more.
New Baby Choir Launched at Community Centre in Bansko
This week, the Nikola Vaptsarov Community Center in Bansko started a new music school for babies and toddlers up to two years old. This is an effort to help young children access old Bulgarian words and help them with socialisation. Read more. [Translation required.]
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Events Next Week
Cosy Vibes, Fine Wines & Flavourful Baked Goods
Lubanitsa and D&Vino are joining forces to bring an evening for the senses on Thursday (23rd) at 7pm. Lubanichka, quiche, and cheesecake will be paired with Bulgarian wines to fill your evening with warm autumn flavours. Price is 45 BGN. More info.
Painting & Wine Evening
Whether you’re an aspiring artist or looking to have a relaxing time, join the painting & wine 2-hour experience at the Kempinski Hotel at 6pm on Saturday (25th). Price per person is 50 BGN. More info.
Twenty Years of Excellence at Kempinski
The Kempinski Hotel is celebrating twenty years of being open in Bansko with a six-course gourmet meal on Saturday (25th). It starts at 7pm and costs 189 BGN per person. More info.
Pre-Halloween Candle Party
Join Anita at her art studio on Naiden Gerov Street on Saturday (25th) at 6pm for a pre-Halloween candle workshop that includes Halloween music and sangria. There is also a prize for best costume. More info.
Bansko Walking Group
The Bansko Walking Group meets on Sundays near the gondola to have a stroll around different parts of Bansko and asks for a 5 BGN donation to Bansko Street Dogs. These usually take place every Sunday at 11am, and next week’s walk should be posted in the BNB group soon. See information & photo from today’s walk here.
Inside The Beehive 🍯
Is Drink Driving Increasing in Bansko?
I shared a story about whether drink driving is becoming more common in town.
Read the post here.
Insider Info: BSD Pub Quizzes
If you want to know when the pub quizzes are returning (put on by Bansko Street Dogs), then this post is for you.
Read the post here.
Photo of the Week
The Glazne River in Autumn (with a view of the mountains).
Photo by Kostadin Kotirkov
Follow @banskobuzz on Instagram.
Before You Go…
I’ve been talking to a few people in town this week. Some were giving me information on opening dates for places for the winter season, others with information on new businesses opening in town in 2026 (one of the new businesses sounds very interesting), and some people were trying to get me to talk about stories from The Beehive, which I found funny.
It was also interesting to hear readers of the Buzz talking to local Banskalis about some news stories from last week’s Buzz. These were the two most-clicked ones from the newsletter: the new bar with the best mountain views and the police officer being breathalised at a morning briefing.
If you feel that someone should be reading the Bansko Buzz, but they aren’t currently signed up, please send them to the website and ask them to pop their email address in to subscribe: banskobuzz.com.
—
Nick
Publisher, Bansko Buzz
