Official Name: | Balsha |
Native Name: | Балша |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Type1: | Province (Oblast) |
Subdivision Name1: | Sofia City |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Nikolay Nodkov |
Established Title: | Named as "Pancharevo" |
Established Date: | unknown |
Timezone: | EET |
Utc Offset: | +2 |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Balsha |
Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
Population Total: | 719 |
Population As Of: | Census 2024 |
Elevation M: | 617 |
Postal Code: | 1217 |
Area Code: | (+359) 02 ??? |
Blank Name: | Car plates |
Blank Info: | C, CA, CB |
Balsha is a village in Sofia Oblast (the capital region) in Bulgaria. It has a population of 719 people (2024) and lies at 617 metres of altitude - located right at the beginning and at the westernmost part of the Stara Planina mountain range.[1]
According to legend, the Sofia valley was covered by a lake which reached all the way to Stara Planina. Three young women got married in villages on the opposite sides of the lake - Balsha, Yana and Boyana.
Another legend tells that a local aristocrat whose name was Balsha was helping the church and the close by monastery St Theodor Stratilat.
The Balsha village is also where Bulgarian patriot Ivan Denkoglu was born.
There is a primary school in the nearby village of Dobroslavtsi (179 OU), located about 4,3 km away.
It is possible to reach the village with Sofia metropolitan public transport via local bus nr. 30 (from Vrabnitsa - which itself can be reached with the Sofia metro).
The St. Theodor Stratilat monastery is located at a walking distance from the village.