BULGARIA HISTORICAL MONUMETS AND NATURAL SIGHTS

RILA MONASTERY

It is the most impressive architectural and historical monument in Bulgaria from the Bulgarian National Revival period, founded by the hermit Ivan of Rila in the 10th century after the adoption of the Christian religion by the Bulgarians. Far from the major roads, the monastery preserved the rights granted to it by the Bulgarian kings and repeatedly reaffirmed by the sultans. At the end of the 18th century, however, began the onslaughts of the Kurdjalis. The monastery was destroyed to be restored later, in the first half of the 19th century. Situated at an altitude of 1,147 m above sea level, it occupies an areaof 32,000 sq m and is surrounded with stone walls up to 2 m thick and up to 24 m high.

One of the best preserved architectural monuments of the monastery complex is Hrelyo’s Tower, which was built in 1335. It is 23 m high. On the fourth floor there was a small church, in which valuable mural paintings have been preserved, dating from the 14th century. The monastery church rises in the centre of the yard, the inner and outer decoration of which is the work of wood-carvers from the Samokov, Debur and Razlog schools, and the mural paintings were created by the talented Bulgarian icon-painter ZahariZograph.

Interesting are the guest rooms of the monastery, furnished by different towns and villages in the country and bearing their respective names: that of Koprivshtitsa, that of Pazardjik, etc. The Refectory is a rare piece of architecture with its hearths, arcades and vaults. In the monastery library there are more than 16,0 books, including many unique ones, scores of old printed books, gospels and lives of saints in beautiful bindings. In the museum there are old parchments private tour guide ephesus, icons, Hrelyo’s throne and the old door of Hrelyo’s Church – the work of talented wood- carvers of the 14th century. Of equally great interest is a cross – a crucifiction — which was made by Monk Raphael. The monk devoted 12 years of his life to making the cross, in the course of which he lost his sight, but the 140 biblical scenes incorporating more than 1,500 human figures arouse the admiration of visitors even today. On show in the ethnographic section of the museum are various objects and costumes, given as gifts by pilgrims from all parts of the peninsula.

Near the monastery there is an attractive restaurant run by Balkantourist (3rd class), which is open day and night. The Rila Monastery Camp Site and the Bor Camp Site can accommodate a total of 270 people.

Interesting excursions can be made from the monastery to the Partisan Meadow locality at the foot of the peaks Dvouglav and Iglata. A two hours’ walk leads to Brichebor Peak, a five hours’ walk – to the Dry Lake, and a six hours’ walk – to the Ribni Ezera (Fish Lakes).

The Rila Monastery is 123 km from Sofia. It is reached via the international highway leading to Athens; at Kocherinovo village a turning leads through the valley of the Rilska River to the monastery.

BACHKOVO MONASTERY

The second largest monastery in Bulgaria after the Rila Monastery. It was founded in 1083 by the Georgian Grigoriy Bacuriani and has been reconstructed several times. The only building which has come down to us from the time of its foundation is the two-storeyed church and ossuary.The murals of the church are a unique monument of Byzantine art from the period of the Comnenus dynasty.

The central church was erected in, the 17th century, during the Ottoman rule. At the beginning of the 19th century the monastery was extended and one more church was built, the murals of which were painted by Zahari Zograph.

The monastery lies south of Plovdiv and can be reached by a modern, partly paved and partly asphalted road (some 30 km). The road goes on further south as far as Pamprovo.