City of Banya. Kaleto Forest Park.

City of Banya. Kaleto Forest Park.
Banya is a city in southern Bulgaria, municipality of Karlovo, Plovdiv region. It is also known as the mineral baths of Karlovci, which is the old and colloquial name of the city. On some road maps the town of Banya is designated as Karlovy Vary due to the tourist importance of the settlement.
The city of Banya arose thanks to the presence of mineral water, as well as the production of wines and essential oils - rose, mint and lavender. With the arrival of the two Bagar brothers, the wine and butter industry grew. Today, Ivan Bagarov's mansion has been turned into a luxurious establishment. In 1927, Tsar Boris III stayed at Velizar Bagarov’s house for treatment. After relief from his illness, he built his own house in 1929, called “Our House.” The “Royal Bath” was built especially for him.
Tsar Boris III first came to the village of Banya in 1925 and stayed at the villa of his friend, manufacturer V. Bagarov, after unsuccessful treatment for rheumatism in Hisary. Then the king had the opportunity to appreciate the benefits of the Charles Baths. A little later, in 1929, in the northern outskirts of the village, the royal villa of Boris III was built according to the design of famous Bulgarian architects Ivan Vasiliev and Dimitar Tsolov.
Kaleto Forest Park.
Tsar Boris III was a great lover of botany and with his help the first afforestation began around the 500-hectare park. The first poplars were planted in 1938. Massive forest plantings were carried out in 1955-56. Before this, the land on which the park is located was a swamp, and to improve it, tons of sand were poured by wagons.
The park has the Cocalceto spring, the only water from which is suitable for drinking.