Not many people know that Kyustendil is one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. It dates from the fifth and sixth centuries BCE, when the Thracians were attracted to the location because of its thermal springs, which the people of Kyustendil enjoy even now. Further along in history, during the first century CE, the Romans turned the town into an important fortress, trade centre and a popular spa resort, which they called Pautalia. Archaeological excavations that took place during the 1970s uncovered these ancient Roman baths. They were turned into an historical and cultural monument.
The Pautalia thermes are one of the most significant monuments from Roman times in Bulgaria. They are the second largest after those in Odessos (present day Varna). The building – a public bath built during the second century – is part of a large complex called Asclepion. Six premises supplied with a heating system (hypocaust) and situated on an area of 1000 sq m have been researched and are exhibited. The design of the Asclepion (meaning “arcado”) is a valued system of corridors and is the only one known to date in Bulgaria. Тhe building has a rectangular shape and occupies a total of 3000 sq m. Semi-circular niches and pools have been found on part of the premises. Today, the Roman baths are a symbol of Kyustendil. Three other ancient baths have been preserved in the city as well – Chifte, Dervish and Alay. They are now also cultural monuments.
The Alay bath has been turned into sport recreation centre and has a swimming pool and a sauna and offers massages. Alay Bath is mainly used by the athletically inclined, but can also be used by anyone for a fee.
Dervish is a tiny bath in a dome-shaped building. Though the outside facade was refurbished a few years ago, the facility still hasn’t been re-opened as a bath and currently serves only as an historical monument.
During 1912, the extension and restore of Chifte, or the Central Bath, as it is now known, was completed. Since then, people of Kyustendil have continued to make good use of it. Going to the Central Bath at least once of twice a week has turned into a tradition for the townspeople. The bath contains three swimming pools, each with a different temperature. One is considered cool – at 38 °C, the second is considered warm – 40 °C, and the third is hot – at 42 °C. Interestingly, because the mineral water naturally flows extremely hot from the springs, it is first held in other specially designed pools located outside the bath, where the water cools down. Then it arrives in the bath already suitable for use. Furthermore, inside the bath there are places with stone seating, designed for people who wish to wash themselves seated. Mineral water is taken with a small bowl from sink-like containers of hot mineral water and is poured over the person – a technique used in times when showers were not present.
So, here is an example where modern technologies, such as plumbed showers and baths within a bathroom, are in fact not preferred by people otherwise living in a modernised world. And, as for many things, it is more fulfilling to go back in time to look for pleasure, than to the future.
