| Traditionally, the Alps have been the | | | | strongholds such as Val D'isere or Meribel), |
| mainstay of the European winter sports | | | | on the Bulgarian slopes. Instead Bulgaria |
| industry. Whilst the traditional Alpine | | | | continues to attract a younger, more open |
| nations of France, Switzerland and Austria | | | | minded and adventurous crowd, and at prices |
| are still the most popular ski destinations | | | | that are up to ten times less than those in |
| for the Brits, the cost of ski property in | | | | France, it's not surprising that Bulgaria is |
| these countries has risen beyond most | | | | growing in popularity every year. |
| people's reach. This has led to a gap in the | | | | |
| market for more reasonably priced ski | | | | Bansko, probably Bulgaria's most famous ski |
| property, and this is a gap that Eastern | | | | resort, has seen impressive development of |
| Europe - and Bulgaria in particular - has | | | | the ski area over the last five years, with |
| neatly filled. | | | | extensive new lift systems being built |
| | | | offering even more terrain, and several new |
| As the stigma attached to the former | | | | apartment buildings going up. Unlike in |
| communist countries of Eastern Europe has | | | | France, where a one bedroom apartment would |
| slowly disappeared, the stable political | | | | cost anywhere from 150,000 Euros upwards, ski |
| atmosphere and the booming investment in such | | | | property in Bansko can be secured for around |
| countries has become very appealing to the | | | | 40,000 Euros, and with an impressive 18 hole |
| British buyer. And let's not forget the ski | | | | golf course near by, apartments can offer |
| resorts themselves; though not quite as high | | | | investors year round rental potential. |
| or extensive as the Alps, the Rila Mountains | | | | |
| (which are part of the Balkans' highest | | | | And other Bulgarian ski resorts are following |
| range) rise to a very respectable 2925m and | | | | Bansko's lead; Borovets, Bulgaria's oldest |
| offer numerous cosy villages and plenty of | | | | winter resort is the biggest and most modern |
| comfortable accommodation. | | | | in the country. Situated in the Mousla ridge |
| | | | of the Rila range it's seen new expansion of |
| At one time, Bulgaria was famed as a bargain | | | | the lift system and new apartment |
| basement ski destination, with rickety lifts | | | | developments. |
| from a bygone soviet era; it was cheap and | | | | |
| cheerful, but not somewhere that serious | | | | Pamporovo, one of the most modern ski resorts |
| skiers would visit. However, the | | | | in Bulgaria, is characterised by rounded |
| multi-million Euro investment in the country | | | | mountains and wooded slopes, which make it |
| have put Bulgaria on the piste map as a | | | | ideal for learners but more challenging |
| respectable destination for snow sports | | | | pistes do exist - such as the Giant Slalom |
| enthusiasts. | | | | run - and the resort's most difficult slope |
| | | | "The Wall". Again, off plan studio or one/two |
| The clientele of the Bulgarian mountains | | | | bedrooms apartments can be secured for |
| differs a little from those of the Alps; you | | | | similar prices to those in Bansko and |
| won't find many fur-clad ski-snobs (who | | | | Borovets, which is much lower than in Western |
| rarely venture from their Anglicised | | | | Europe. |