Monasteries

“St. Ivan Rilski”  Monastery

The largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria is located about 120 kilometers south of Sofia. Situated at 1500 meters altitude amidst the beautiful scenery of the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula - Rila. With its architecture, wall paintings and ancient history of the monastery is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Bulgaria.

Troyan Monastery "Assumption"

Situated in beautiful countryside on the banks of the Cherni Osam River just 10 miles east of the town of Troyan. Occurs at the beginning of the 17th century. Shortly later an unknown monk from Mount Athons monastery left a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, which to this day is among the most valuable icons of the monastery.

Ivanski Rock Monastery
 

Near the village of Ivanovo, about 12 kilometers south of Russe is one of the most interesting and valuable monuments of culture - Ivanovo Rock Monastery in the list of UNESCO world cultural heritage. The monastery is situated amidst the picturesque canyon of the River Lom and Rousse and represents a complex of churches, chapels and cells carved in the rocks about 32 feet above the river, .

Glozhen Monastery “St. George the Victorious”

Built on a high bluff, surrounded by precipices , Glozhen monastery   resembles a  medieval fortress from the  distance. It is located 2 kilometers from the village Glozhen. It is believed that it was founded in the 13th  century by the Kiev prince Glozh who arrived in these lands to seek the miraculous icon of St. George the Victorious for the healing of his sick daughter.

Dryanovo Monastery “St. Michael” 

The monastery is situated among the high limestone cliffs of the picturesque gorge of the Dryanovo river, 5 km southwest of the town of Dryanovo. It was founded in early the 17th century. Only a few kilometers from the monastery is the cave “Bacho Kiro”, where they found traces of the Paleolithic settlement in Europe.