Historic Landmark
Holy Trinity Church Bansko

Holy Trinity Church is a symbol of Bansko with its unique tower and peal of bells. Around 1810 began preparations for building the church. In the years of Ottoman rule there was a law that is stating that you can build a church just a place where previously there was another. For this purpose, Bansko buried secretly cross and icon of the selected location. Another requirement under Turkish law is that the church can not be greater than the mosque. For details of the preliminary draft, the temple would be very large and spacious, which will lead to conflict with the Turkish government. Therefore, preparing a diplomatic move, the condition is present and Turkish religious symbol in the new church. So the big stone over the main entrance of the church depicts the cross, and on both sides of crescent star. Later, when Trinity Church was built, a warrant has been ordered to be destroyed, because Christ can not have a large temple of Mohammed. Bansko still credited as a diplomatic answer that after the cross and crescent depicted, the temple is for both. So the church is preserved until today.

Construction has started with about 350 craftsmen, stonemasons, bricklayers and carpenters, journeymen and apprentices, volunteers from the village. How to tell stories at night increased the construction workers and expanded the boundaries of the church. Every night is a step in the church grew, while the Turks slept Bansko worked to not understand how great is the foundation of the temple.

Completed Temple Holy Trinity is a pseudo-basilica, built entirely of stone with a length of 44 meters., 22 m wide and height 12m. The architecture of the building is made so that deceive the eye may seem small, but actually that is not the church walls are 110 cm thick in foundations, exterior doors and windows such as arches are made of hewn stone. Altar outside a half-angle of 18 prism, graduating with a beautiful stone cornice. The construction is solid white fir beams, concluded in such a way that amazes architects today. The whole weight of the roof rests on 12 pillars, which symbolize the 12 martyrs of Christ, the columns are of fir, covered with ropes, which are thoroughly soaked with tar.

Bear legends to that in the church and the ancient city has tunnels that served the local population to hide from the invaders, so they sneak chimneys. Besides well known small doors which are creeping from house to house in the city has tunnels leading out of town.

Churchyard is surrounded by 4m high stone wall, so that the wicked do not see eye to what was happening inside. With softness and humanity church is still preserved, to bring joy forever on every heart, reverent faith, ancient culture, tradition and art.

• Church