Surrounded by staggering snow-capped mountain tops and huddled amidst magnificent pine woods, the Rila Moanstery has been the stronghold of Bulgarian Christianity for over 1000 years. It is an architectural miracle established in the late 10th C and has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Legend has it that the mountain river went miraculously dry so that the horse-driven carts loaded with construction materials could pass through.

St. John of Rila – the hermit who left a lasting mark

The monastery’s patron-saint and founder is St. John of Rila. Early on in his life John of Rila decided to live as a hermit and retreated in the high and deserted Rila Mountains. But word of his piety spread quickly and even King Petar decided to visit the holy man in his cave in the mountains. John of Rila, however, would not leave his seclusion and greeted the king only from a distance. He also accepted only the food that was offered to him and refused the gold. But despite his reclusive life, John of Rila attracted many followers and was proclaimed a saint while he was still alive. After his his death in 946 AD, his followers built a monastery in the saint’s initial place of habitation.

Present-day Rila Monastery

The construction of the present-day monastery which is the biggest in Bulgaria started around 13th-14th century. The striped black, white and red arches, the murals of saints and sinners and the stunning natural landscape, make the cloister a true spectacle. Its main church, the Holy Mother of Christ is a piece of art in its own right. Its walls and dome were painted by some of the best icon painters of the rime including Zahary Zograf.

The Rila Monastery treasures some of the most impressive icon paintings created in the 14th-19th centuries. The portrait of the monastery’s patron, St John of Rila, is the oldest icon in the monastery (14th C). Some other extremely valuable icons include that of St Arsenius (14th-15th C), the Assumption (15th-16th C), St George Enthroned (15th-16th C), John the Precursor, Archangel Michael and Christ Enthroned (17th C).
The iconostasis at the main altar is one of the masterpieces of the Samokov School of Master Wood Carvers. It is the biggest in Bulgaria and the only one that boasts exquisite gilted woodwork.
The tomb of the Bulgarian monarch King Boris III is also located inside the church.

The Hrelyu Tower

A devastating fire in 1778 destroyed much of the monastery. The only building that survived the flames was the Hrelyu Tower. This defensive structure, built in 1335 by a local feudal lord, still stands tall in the monastery’s courtyard. Legend has it that monks warded off attacks perched on top of the tower by pouring boiling-hot oil over any intruder. The tower has a chapel of its own. The murals and the old icon paintings inside it are superb and well-preserved examples of Medieval art. The earliest mural dates back to the 14th century and represents three scenes of the life of St. John of Rila.

The Monastery’s Museum

The artefacts exhibited inside the monastery’s museum reveal the miraculous story of the place. One of its most exquisite art pieces is the Rafali’s cross. The is the life work of the monk Rafali. For 12 consecutive years Rafaili toiled over his woodwork carving 36 different scenes from the Bible and a number of other figures. His exceptional cross is made from a single piece of wood and by the time Rafali completed it he had gone completely blind.

CHECK AVAILABILITY - Rila Monastery & Boyana Church - 2 World Heritage Sites in 1Day!

Looking for more ideas:

• History & Culture
• Nature & Outdoor activities
  
• Festivals and more …
• Day trips from Sofia

We are traditionalists who are passionate about our folklore, culture, food, history, and nature. In order to provide our guests with an unparalleled experience, we explored every nook and cranny of our country. We met the winegrowers, farmers, and the elderly people who shared their stories with us. We simply fell in love with everything what Bulgaria has to offer and can hardly wait to show it to you.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND WANT TO DISCOVER MORE THAN THE TOURIST SIGHTS, THAN YOUR GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU…

The post Rila Monastery – UNESCO World Heritage Site appeared first on Bulgaria Tours | Sofia Day Trips | Private Tours | Undiscovered Bulgaria.

The Madonna of Belogradchik:

“Once there was a nunnery hidden among the Belogradchik Rocks. The youngest nun in the monastery was so beautiful that she was secretly envied by all and often reminded that it was vowed to God. Everyone who saw her could not help but love her.

On the St. Peter’s day all people from the surroundings were allowed to enter the monastery for prayers. A young patrician could not take his eyes off the beautiful young nun and they fell in love at first side. She could not resist her heart and met him secretly. Few months later she gave a birth to a little child and the nun’s illicit love was no longer a secret. The cries of their child echoed the entire land and the elderly nuns decided to punish the young woman by all monastic canons.

On the day when they had to expel her from the monastery dark clouds covered the sky. The day became night and something mysterious happened. A frightening thunder destroyed the monastery and in a few moments turned everyone into a stone. Since than a rock formation, named after the Madonna and her child, are standing alone reminding us that no human being should turn against another.”

Belogradchik

Belogradchik is a small town located in the Northwest Bulgaria where your imagination will start working on another mode. Extraordinary beautiful landscape where the nature forces created number of unique rock sculptures. The formation of the Red rocks started about 230 million years ago and during the Triassic period were a bottom of a shallow sea. Later during the hot and dry period the natural process of erosion and the surface rivers formed vertical blocks seen today as a rock figures.

When the Romans occupied the Balkan Peninsula

they saw the potential of that region and decided to construct a fortress where the rock formations were used as a natural protection. During the Second Bulgarian Empire the Belogradchik Fortress was extended by the Bulgarian tsar Ivan Stratsimir and exceeded the total area of 10 210 square meters. Becoming one of the most important strongholds in the surroundings it amazes even today with its architecture.
In the quiet evenings, when the sun starts going down and the red colour takes over the rocks, you will start seeing clearly shapes of different animals, pyramids, variety of faces and even whole human bodies. The bizarre rock sculptures are astonishing, not only with their age, but also with the legends behind.

Amazing people create amazing memories, but inspirational thoughts come with inspirational scenery.

CHECK AVAILABILITY - Belogradchik ROCKS DAY TRIP

• BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS – Wikipedia
• BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS – Get off the beaten path
• UNESCO’S WORLD HERITAGE SITES
• HOW SAFE IS BULGARIA

Looking for more ideas:

• History & Culture
• Nature & Outdoor activities
• Rila Monastery
• Sofia Tour
• Plovdiv Tour

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND WANT TO DISCOVER MORE THAN THE TOURIST SIGHTS, THAN YOUR GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU…

Did we get your attention? Let’s start our journey through Bulgaria together and discover it all!  

Create your own itinerary

The post BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS, BULGARIA appeared first on Bulgaria Tours | Sofia Day Trips | Private Tours | Undiscovered Bulgaria.

Plovdiv

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in the world! The city was chosen for the European Capital of Culture for 2019. It was found during the Neolithic period in the 2nd millennium BC. The Roman Theatre, The Stadium and other archaeological finds from the 2nd century are mixing with the Revival Architecture of the old town. Plovdiv was the largest Roman city on the Balkan Peninsula and the Episcopal Basilica with its mosaics was included just recently in the UNESCO’s Indicative List of Significant Cultural and Natural Objects.

Tatul

Tatul is a Thracian sanctuary dating back to the 18-20th Century BC. It is located in Kurdzhali province, Eastern Rhodopes. We all have heard about Orpheus – legendary musician, prophet and poet who had the ability to charm all living things (even the stones) with his music. It is believed that Orpheus and king Rhesus (another Thracian ruler) were the only two leaders buried overground – on a top of a hill. Tatul is a place where this ritual is closely linked to the cult of Orpheus and many clay altars dating back to 18-19 century BC are proving that it was used without interruption during the Iron Age.

Perperikon

PERPERIKON – The Holy city of the ancient Thracians. This 8,000 year old prehistoric shrine, which is today known as the ancient Thracian city of Perperikon, was originally built by an advanced unnamed prehistoric civilization that worshipped the Sun God. During the ensuing centuries, it was adopted as a holy place by the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, and finally by Bulgarians.
[See image gallery at undiscoveredbulgaria.com]  

Villa Armira

Near Ivaylovgrad, Haskovo province of Bulgaria – Villa Armira is dating back to the 1st century and it is believed that belonged to a noble Roman Thrace. Some of the most unique mosaics can be seen in the 22 separate rooms. The marble decoration, geometric figures, animals and plants display features typical of Ancient Roman art. She was named after the River Armira, minor tributary of River Arda.

The Deaf Stones

“The Deaf Stones” Thracian Sanctuary are Rock blocks with deep gorges cut. A large cult monument in Bulgaria and you can see several of these unique formations in Rhodopi Mountains. The bed, the niche cut in the eastern part and a carved tomb chamber seems to be unfinished, but who would know how they’ve looked like before the Earthquake in the 4th century AD? Another interesting fact is that between the rocks there is no echo and therefore people call them the deaf stones.

Belogradchik Fortress

Belogradchik Fortress was constructed by the Romans dating back to the late Antiquity and the rock formations were serving as a natural protection. The Rocks itself were formed 230 million years ago. It is located on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains also known as the Old Mountains. Later on was extended by the Bulgarian tsar of Vidin Ivan Stratsimir. In 1396 the fortress was captured by the Ottomans and had an important role during the uprising 1850s, and used in warfare during the Serbo-Bulgarian war.
[See image gallery at undiscoveredbulgaria.com]

The Church of St. George

The Church of St. George can be found in the middle of the city centre of Sofia, Bulgaria and it was built in the 4th century. It is considered to be the oldest building in Sofia. The Early Christian Rotunda has three layers of frescoes and the earliest is dating back to the 10th century. St Sofia is dating back to the 4-6^th century and it’s the second oldest church in Bulgaria. She gave its name to the city in the 14th century.

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo or so-called the “City of Tsars” represents the perfect combination and variety of the medieval and revival architecture in Bulgaria. The fortress Tsarevets is dating back to the 12^th century during the Second Bulgarian Empire. However the earliest evidence of human habitation dates back to the 2nd millennium BC.

The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Unique frescoes from the rock-hewn monasteries in the limestone cliffs of Rusenski Lom. The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo became part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. Remarkable artistry for the 13-14th century and mastery in the art of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
[See image gallery at undiscoveredbulgaria.com]

Magura Cave

Magura Cave is one of the few cave complexes in the world where you can stand within inches of prehistoric paintings that were painted between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago. And a visit to Magura can be combined with drinking some of the best preserved wines and champagne, specially selected to mature in natural conditions. She is located 25km/16ml away from the Belogradchik Fortress.

We are traditionalists who are passionate about our folklore, culture, food, history, and nature. In order to provide our guests with an unparalleled experience, we explored every nook and cranny of our country. We met the winegrowers, farmers, and the elderly people who shared their stories with us. We simply fell in love with everything what Bulgaria has to offer and can hardly wait to show it to you.

Looking for more ideas:

• History & Culture
• Nature & Outdoor activities
• Festivals and more …
• Day trips from Sofia

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND WANT TO DISCOVER MORE THAN THE TOURIST SIGHTS, THAN YOUR GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU…

Did we get your attention? Let’s start our journey through Bulgaria together and discover it all! 

Create your own itinerary  

The post TOP 10 PLACES NOT TO MISS ON YOUR VISIT TO BULGARIA! appeared first on Bulgaria Tours | Sofia Day Trips | Private Tours | Undiscovered Bulgaria.