There are many churches and chapels to be visited within the Sapareva Banya Municipality. In the town itself, there is the Church of the 40 Martyrs which dates from 1859, and whose alter was carved by the famous woodcrafter Stanislav Dospevski.

Also in the town of Sapareva Banya is the Byzantine church of Saint Nikola. The original foundation of this church dates to the XIII century and has been renovated several times since. In the park surrounding the church you will see a collection of antiquities found during the archeological digs of the Roman ruins of the ancient city of Germanea including an original bath. The church is currently undergoing further restoration.

In the village of Resilovo is the Monastery of the Mother of God, which was constructed in 1927 by the wealthy widow of a seaman lost in the Black Sea. It is one of the few functioning convents in Bulgaria and can be visited daily. Its festival is held on the first of October each year. Reconstruction of the inner courtyard and gardens is currently underway.

The church of the Mother of God in the village of Saparevo is located on a hilltop above the center. Legend has it that a local man was told by an angel in a dream of a treasure buried on a nearby hillside. The treasure was exactly where he had dreamed. In his gratitude, the man financed the building of what is still the largest church in the area. It is unique in that its four inner columns are ornamented with gilded images of animals.

Mineral water spa

Sapareva Banya prides itself in its cool mountain water and its healing geothermal mineral waters. The mineral water is largely sulfuric with significant levels of iron, calcium and manganese. It is the hottest mineral water in the Balkans and produces the only active geyser here as well. The geyser and its surrounding park were developed in 1957 and have been tapped as a geothermal heating source for the municipal buildings and the greenhouses.
The Sapareva Banya Sanitorium/Health Center has been treating patients with diseases of the upper respiratory system, nervous system, bones, joints, and skin for over 50 years. The staff is composed of trained specialists in mud treatments, hot water massage and physical therapy. The Sanatorium complex also contains an outdoor mineral water pool for use during the summer season. Please contact administration at: (0359) 0707 - 22 - 30. or e-mail the Tourism Board directly from the home page.

After a day spent hiking the trails of Northwestern Rila, treat yourself to a bath in the hottest and most therapeutic water in Europe. The Sapareva Banya Mineral Baths have been completely remodeled and are open from 7:00a.m. until 7:00p.m. The baths are divided into men's and women's pools where personal massages are available. A third section offers private baths for family use. Afterwards enjoy a drink in the adjacent city park and pavilion.

Tourism

In recent years the overall focus in Sapareva Banya has been on improving its tourism infrastructure. New sidewalks, trees, cafes and hotels have sprung up in the center and along the main road leading to Panichishte. Sapareva Banya's growth as a Bulgarian mountain resort has been due largely to its proximity to Sofia and its growing opportunities for mountain, ski, religious and spa tourism. Following are some of the restaurant and hotel options available in Sapareva Banya.