Sofia Central Mineral Bath

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sofia Central Mineral Bath
the main entrance

The building of the former Central Mineral Bath Sofia ( Bulgarian Централна минерална баня Zentralna mineralna Banja ) or Sofia Urban mineral bath ( Софийска градска минерална баня / Sofijská gradska mineralna Banja) hosted from 1913 to 1988 a swimming pool and thermal baths in the center of the Bulgarian capital Sofia . The last inscription above the main entrance read " Community Mineral Baths " ( Bulgar . Общинска минерална баня / Obschtinska mineralna banja), colloquially the plural form is also used - Central Mineral Baths (Bulgarian Центалнинини минерniрani ) бални минерniрani . Since September 2015 the building houses the Museum of the History of Sofia .

The Central Bath is located in the center of Sofia, in the Oborishte Rayon (Bulgarian Оборище ). Together with the neighboring Banya Bashi Mosque , the Central Market Hall of Sofia and the Sofia Synagogue, it forms a historically valuable architectural ensemble that characterizes the center of historical Sofia. In 1998 the building of the former central bath and the bath square in front of it were included in the Bulgarian list of cultural monuments of national importance.

Before the bath, the 80 m long front side with the main entrance to the west, the bathroom space is (see below ; bulg. Площад Бански / Ploschtad Banski), also "in front of the Central Baths" (bulg. Площад пред централната баня ) called - a small park that connects to Knjaginia Maria Luisa boulevard . The Zentralbad is bordered by three other streets: on the back (to the east) from Serdica Street , to the south (when looking at the main entrance: on the right) by Triadiza Street and to the north (when looking at the main entrance: on the left) from Exarch Josif Street .

history

Bathhouses used to be a cultural institution, the tradition of which goes back to the Roman thermal baths . At this point in the center of Sofia, where a thermal spring with a temperature of 46 ° C has risen since Roman times , a public Turkish bath ( hamam or oriental bath ), which was directly adjacent to the mosque , had stood since at least the 16th century . Before the construction of the Central Mineral Baths in 1913, this old Turkish bath had already fallen into disrepair.

The Banja Bschi Mosque was named after this old, much smaller Turkish bath, which was even closer to the mosque than today's central bath. Banja-Baschi means many baths , which is why the name of the mosque is also translated as bath mosque .

During the Ottoman rule, hammams were built in Sofia at the numerous exit points of the mineral springs. One of the most famous “Oriental Baths” was built directly onto the Banja Baschi Mosque in the 16th century. Travelers also report this in their travel reports. During the visit of the Austrian traveler Hans Dernschwam (1494–1568), who visited Sofia from 1553 to 1555, he noted the existence of a large bath and two smaller baths on both sides of the city. Dernschwam described the bath as follows:

“The bathrooms are in one place. There is a large rectangular building at the entrance, with a large Greek-style dome, similar to the Pantheon in Rome . It is richly decorated with white marble. ... The large water pipes that lead the water into the bathroom are made of clay. Each tube is roughly the length of a Viennese cubit . The different tubes penetrate each other. The tubes are plastered like I saw it in old buildings in Thorenburg ( Turda ), Transylvania . "

Because of the growing population, the old hammams were no longer sufficient, so that in 1881, three years after the end of Ottoman rule in 1878, the Sofia city council discussed the expansion or renovation or old “oriental bath” at the mosque.

The new extension was called "Small Bath" (Bulgarian Малка баня ). It had an entrance on Exarch Josif Street and had 50 seats in two rows, a Russian bath ( banya ), bath tubs for the sick and a laundry. There were institutions in different grades: first to third grade. For the first time, an entrance fee was taken for the use of the pool.

The addition to the old hammam did not fundamentally solve the space problem, which is why the construction of a new mineral bath began in 1906, which is the building of the central bath today. During the construction of the Central Baths in 1913, the construction of other architecturally important buildings in Sofia also took place: two years earlier, the Central Market Hall opposite (1911) had been opened. Immediately after Bulgaria's independence from the Ottoman Empire, the Alexandrowska Hospital (Александровска болница) was built in 1879 , the parliament building (Народно събрание / Narodno Sabranie ), in 1885 the Ministry of War (Веменентер Вонерание) (1908 Вонеретер Воентер 190 Воентер) "Иван Вазов"), 1907 the Military Club (Военен клуб; today the Central Military Club ), 1908 the Synodal Palace (Синодална палата), 1912 the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Храм-паметата ), 1912 the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Храм-паметик, Храм-паметик, рам-паметник Central Bath - the construction of the Russian Church (Руска църква) was also completed. From 1900 to 1920 the architectural style of the Vienna Secession also had an influence on the architectural style in Sofia. Many public buildings in Sofia are built in this style: the Royal Palace in Sofia , the University Building (the main building of Sofia University ), the Art Academy, the Military Club, the Central Market Hall , as well as numerous representative private buildings: the villas of Dimitar Jablanski (Димитър Яблански; Boulevard Tsar Oswoboditel No. 18; until 1991 Chinese embassy, ​​today vacant) and Kharalambi Sarmadschiew (Хараламби Сърмаджиев; Boulevard Tsar Oswoboditel No. 19; today: residence of the Turkish ambassador in Bulgaria), the Alfabank at Narodno Sabranie, many houses between the streets Vasil Levski , Slivnitsa , Moskowska , Opaltschenska and Positano .

In earlier times, before the Second World War, the building was the center of urban life in Sofia and the people of Sofia moved to the central bath on weekends with the whole family and a bundle of dirty laundry thrown over their shoulder. The rich had the servants carry their dirty clothes. They took food with them for the whole day they spent in the central bath. You could also order a coffee there. Visiting the baths became the favorite ritual of the city dwellers.

Also known from Turkish baths Tellak (or Telektschi; the description with lifeguard on duty, lifeguard or masseur makes its function inadequately; bulg. Теляк ) were to be found until the end in Zentralbad. Anyone who bought a corresponding additional ticket could have them soap and rub off. Since people only bathed once a week, the Tellak had to "grind" their skin vigorously, it is not just a simple lathering or massage.

During the bombing of Sofia (January 10th and March 30th 1944) during the Second World War, the north wing of the central bath was damaged. However, the building was quickly repaired and completely restored a few years later.

The Zentralbad was originally designed as a balneological spa. However, the city's hygienic requirements soon made it necessary to convert it into a bathing establishment . Between 1913 and 1986, when the Central Baths existed, the population of Sofia increased tenfold - from around 100,000 to 1 million. When the municipal baths were no longer absolutely necessary at the end of the 1960s, because the houses were gradually connected to the hot water supply, the slow, progressive decline of the central bath began. At times the central bath was also used to wash laundry. Smaller partial repairs in the central pool were carried out again in the 1970s. In the socialist epoch of Bulgaria, the preservation of the central pool was not a priority for those in power. The building was not maintained and gradually fell into disrepair. In 1986 it was decided to close the Zentralbad and the building visibly fell into disrepair.

Museum of the City of Sofia

The central pool was in operation until 1986. After that it was closed because of its poor structural condition, the roof threatened to collapse. From 1988 to 1990 the three domes (main entrance, north wing, south wing) were re-covered with a copper roof. However, the non-ferrous metal was stolen piece by piece in order to sell it as scrap metal in the muddle of turns. In 1992, homeless people started a fire in the building. In 1993, the cost of repairs was estimated at $ 12 million. For 12 months the search was unsuccessful for a private investor who would operate the bathroom with a concession for 50 to 70 years. In 1998, Mayor Stefan Sofijanski also discussed the use of the building as a representative building for the town hall, which, however, met with general rejection.

In April 1998 he created the city enterprise "Old Sofia" ("Стара София" / Stara Sofia) with a museum on the city history of Sofia. The central bath is to become the museum's permanent exhibition building. Since the end of 2004, the complete reconstruction of the building began as part of the general plan “Beautiful Sofia” (Bulgarian “ Красива София ” / Krasiwa Sofia).

The building of the central baths has been rebuilt for many years in order to accommodate the 7000 m² Sofia Historical Museum (decision of 1998) in the central wing and a balneological center ( spa ) in the north wing (as well as the east wing and two inner courtyards) . The actual renovation only began in 2004. In September 2015, the building was reopened as the Sofia History Museum.

architecture

The idea and the first drafts for the construction of the new central pool came from the Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger (1856–1929). In the end, however, the bathroom was built according to the designs of the two young Bulgarian architects Petko Momchilow and Jurdan Milanow Popow . The designs by Friedrich Grünanger and Petko Momtschilow from the years 1904 to 1905 were accepted on January 30, 1906. Earlier designs by an Austrian (1883; Emil Förster) and a French (1901) architect were rejected. The shell was completed in 1908. The bath was officially opened on May 13, 1913. However, the building was only completed after two more years. At that time it was an important public building in Sofia. It was built from reinforced concrete, a building material that was still new at the time .

In addition to the main entrance, the building had two side entrances. Both the main entrance and the two side wings each have a domed roof.

The bath was built in the architectural style of the Secession , but with typical Bulgarian, Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox ornamental elements. The facade was modeled from decorative stone slabs and colorful ceramic tiles made of majolica ceramic. The ceramic decorations (mosaic tiles) for the building were designed and made by the artists Charalampi Tatschew (Bulgarian Харалампи Тачев ) and Stefan Dimitrov (Bulgarian Стефан Димитров ), both of whom were professors at the drawing school. Painted ceramics continued the artistic tradition of the Tarnowo (Tarnowo School ) and Nessebar Schools of Architecture , which date back to the 12th to 14th centuries. Because of this ceramics, the Central Bath is associated with the birth of a new trend in Bulgarian architecture, "National Romanticism". The architectural style is also known as Neo-Byzantine architecture or "national architectural style".

The alternating arrangement of colored stripes and decorative motifs with images of Saint Sofia ( Saint Sophia ) was novel .

The building consists of a basement, ground floor and gallery. The influences of the Vienna Secession are particularly evident inside. The central pool had a large swimming pool (cold water pool) and two wings, each with two smaller mineral baths for men and women, these had two pools each, a large and a small one, first and second class facilities, cabins, relaxation rooms with loungers to rest after the hot Bathroom, workplaces for the Telliks, numerous showers and a sauna.

Mineral water

The new water supply points. In the background (left) the north wing of the central bath and (in the middle) the minaret of the Banja Baschi mosque
Apollo statue

Sofia has been known for its numerous mineral and thermal springs since ancient times . These also played an important role in the founding and settlement of the city (initially Serdica, later Sredez, then Sofia). The medicinal springs of Serdica were already well known in Roman times and valued for their healing properties. You were one of the decisive factors in founding Serdica at this point. In Serdica there were several baths in Roman times, remains of which can be found in the square in front of the Hotel Sheraton and under the Sveta Nedelja Cathedral (Bulgarian Света Неделя ).

The mineral fountain at the Zentralbad was capped (brought down) in the 1st century and served the Sofia residents as a thermal fountain until 1912. The mineral water for the thermal fountain at the central bath rises at a temperature of 46 ° C southeast of the Banja Baschi mosque, under the bath square. The thermal spring dries up for several months during the earthquake of 1858 and during construction work in the city center in the 1950s.

In the various districts of Sofia there are a total of 15 springs with a total water volume of 130 liters / second. In addition to the mineral water spring at the Central Bath , there are mineral springs in the districts of Ovtscha kupel , Knjaschewo , Gorna Banja , Bojana and Pantscharewo , the use of which has been documented since ancient times, as well as in the town of Bankja near Sofia . The residents can fill the mineral water free of charge at the freely accessible well (Bulgarian чешма / Tscheschma). The Bulgarian name Tscheschma is translated as well or faucet, whereby it is not a conventional fountain with an open well shaft, but rather a bubbling spring in which the water constantly flows from a pipe, like a drinking fountain, including small drinking fountains are known as Tscheschma.

The mineral water of the Sofia thermal spring at the central bath has been valued by the people of Sofia for a very long time because of its health-promoting effects. The north wing of the central bath (the left wing - when looking at the main entrance) had four taps on the left, on the outside of the building, from which the people of Sofia, especially the elderly, regularly tapped the warm mineral water for home use free of charge. Traditionally they filled it into smaller and larger demijohns that they had brought with them .

Since these taps were closed due to the renovation, new taps (Tscheschma - water taps / wells) were built on the other side of Exarch Josif Street in 2002 . The Exarch Yosif Street runs north from the closed Zentralbad. At one point in this triangular complex with 42 taps a covered as an ornament Apollon statue because Apollo is seen as the patron of medicine and healing springs of the city, he therefore also in the coat of arms of Sofia symbolically occurs. The statue is due to their attribute that a staff of Aesculapius , even with a similar Aesculapius confused statue. The architect Stanislaw Konstantinow (bulg. Станислав Константинов ) and the sculptor Georgi Tschapkanow (bulg. Георги Чапкънов) were responsible for this small complex of taps .

These taps (fountains) are very actively used by the people of Sofia, especially by the elderly, to fill their healing mineral water into bottles and canisters they have brought with them or to drink it on site.

The water from the wells at the Sofia Mineral Baths is weakly mineralized (mineral content up to 2 g / l), it contains hydrocarbonates and sulfates, has an alkaline reaction and is slightly fluoridated. It contains micro-elements: iron, aluminum, manganese, germanium, gallium, titanium, molybdenum, platinum, silver, potassium, lithium and strontium. It is used to treat (drink or bathe) the following diseases:

  • Musculoskeletal disorders: arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, bone diseases, diseases of the muscles and tendons. The fluoride content makes the water suitable for prophylactic use against osteoporosis and caries.
  • Peripheral nervous system diseases: chronic neuralgia, neuritis, plexitis, radiculitis
  • Gynecological diseases and infertility
  • Kidney and urinary tract diseases: kidney stones, chronic pyelonephritis, renal insufficiency, chronic prostatitis.
  • Endocrinological diseases: Podagra, obesity
  • also with: high blood pressure, menopausal symptoms, mild forms of neurosis.

Bathroom place

The market was held on the square next to the mosque, today's Bad-Platz (Banski-Platz). Under the bath square (площад Бански / Ploschtad Banski) are archaeological remains from the Roman period of Sofia (then Serdica). The city center of Sofia was also located here during the Ottoman period. At the northwest end of the square is a small medieval Turkish bath.

An unrealized project in 1942 included the construction of a balneological institute with an attached hotel at the northeast end of Banski Square , between Serdica Street and Exarch Josif Street .

Banski Square was reconstructed in 2003 and returned to its architectural state from 1940; the original greening of the square was restored to its historical state, including the lanterns in the corresponding style. During the reconstruction of the square in 2004, a fountain that was built between 1958 and 1962 was also restored. The fountain was originally designed by the architect Deltscho Sugarew (Bulgarian Делчо Сугарев ; 1905–1998) and decorated with ceramics by the artist Georgi Bakardschiew (Bulgarian Георги Бакърджиев ; 1899–1972). The fountain gradually fell into disrepair and was filled in in 1982. During the reconstruction of the square in 2004, the fountain was restored. The ceramics for the fountain were made by the artist Janko Petrow according to old, preserved patterns.

The no longer existing trade route (bulg. Ул. Търговска / ul. Targowska) connected the square in front of the mineral bath with the square in front of the Royal Palace in Sofia (bulg. Царски дворец ). After the American bombing of Sofia , the trade route was almost completely destroyed. During the socialist reconstruction of the Sofia center, it was then removed, in its place are today the ZUM , the Bulgarian Council of Ministers, the former party house of the BKP and the presidential seat.

The first electric tram line in Sofia ran from the main train station , past the Lion Bridge and the Bad-Platz with the Zentralbad to today's Slawejkow Platz , it was opened on January 1, 1901.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bulgarian list of cultural monuments of national importance (Bulgarian; PDF; 125 kB)
  2. ↑ http://www.sofiahistorymuseum.bg/en/home
  3. ↑ Another unrealized project (Bulgar.)
  4. ↑ Picture of the original well (p. 91)

Web links

Commons : Central Mineral Bath Sofia  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files


Coordinates: 42 ° 41 ′ 57.7 "  N , 23 ° 19 ′ 25.3"  E