site.btaSofia Mayor, Thermal Heritage Association Agree to Restore Central Mineral Baths

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev and the Bulgarian Association for Thermal Heritage (BATH) signed a memorandum Tuesday to restore Sofia's Central Mineral Baths as a municipal thermal center. Representatives from various political groups in the Sofia Municipal Council also signed the document: Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, BSP, Save Sofia, Vazrazhdane and independent municipal councilor Ventsi Stoychev.

What used to be Sofia's central mineral baths - right in the city centre and a block away from the buildings of the government, parliament and the presidential administration - is a significant historical and architectural landmark in the Bulgarian capital. It seized operating as a bath house in 1986.

Before signing the memorandum, Mayor Terziev emphasized the importance of consensus regarding Sofia’s mineral water and thermal heritage, urging collaboration to preserve this resource for future generations. He noted that the mineral water is a unique asset for Sofia, with the potential to bring the city back to its historical glory. Terziev expressed hope that together with other organizations, they can advance initiatives that benefit the people of Sofia. He called the memorandum a symbolic first step toward achieving these goals.

The signing coincided with the 112th anniversary of the opening of the Central Mineral Baths in Sofia, as pointed out by Virginia Zaharieva from BATH. She described the baths as an "oasis" for the city's residents, offering the healing properties of the mineral water to hundreds of thousands. Zaharieva also noted the potential of the Central Baths to become a unique attraction for the many visitors to Sofia.

BATH had previously raised concerns on March 10, 2025, regarding the condition of the building's northern wing, requesting measures to preserve the historical structure and maintain its authenticity. They alerted the Sofia municipality about cracks and neglected areas, calling for comprehensive strengthening, conservation, and restoration of the building, including the underground infrastructure for mineral water.

The central mineral baths

It was designed by architects Petko Momchilov and Friedrich Grünanger and was approved in January 1906, according to the Bulgarian Tourism Ministry. The design incorporated elements of the Vienna Secession style and typical Bulgarian, Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox ornamental features. The base construction was completed in 1908 and the building was opened to the public in 1911 as a public bath with separate facilities for men and women, but the official opening took place two years later, on May 13, 1913. Then it took them another two years before the building was completely finished and a garden set up outside.

During World War II, the north wing of the building suffered huge damage during the bombing of Sofia. It was restored several years later and continued to work as public baths until 1986, when it was closed due to its bad condition and some reasonable concerns about the stability of the roof.

A part of the building now houses the Museum of Sofia History. 

The Bulgarian Association for Thermal Heritage is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Bulgaria's rich thermal heritage. The association focuses on advocating for the restoration, conservation, and sustainable use of thermal baths and related historical sites in Bulgaria, many of which have significant cultural and architectural value. The Sofia Central Mineral Bath is one of its key causes.