Top Tourist Sites » best attractions in Bulgaria

Rozhen Monastery, Melnik

Tommy — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:39:04 +0000

The Rozhen monastery is situated about 5km away from the small town of Melnik up in the lower part of the Pirin mountain. It offers an amazing view to the peaks of the Pirin and Belasitsa mountains, and the famous ‘mels’ of Melnik – the latter being pyramid-like hills around the town, formed by the erosion of clay loam.

About the monastery:

The Rozhen monastery is the biggest sanctuary in the Pirin region and one of the few Bulgarian monasteries of the Middle Ages, which has survived relatively intact up to present days. According to annals kept in Atone, Greece, the monastery dates back at least to 890 AC – for comparison, the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, the Rila monastery, is believed to have started functioning in 917 AC. The church of the monastery, named St Birth of Virgin Mary, later gave its name to the nearby village of Rozhen (Rozhen coming from the root of the Bulgarian word for birth, ‘Rozhdenie’). During the rule of Despot Aleksii Slav, governor of the region at the time of Tzar Kaloyan (1197-1207) and Kaloyan’s nephew, the monastery’s complex was enriched with a number of buildings. The monastery was destroyed by fire in the early 17th century, but was rebuilt in the beginning of the 18th century with the financial support of wealthy Bulgarians from all over the country.

The reconstruction started in 1715, with the church having been entirely renovated in 1732. The monastery saw its apogee in the 19th century when it served as a regional spiritual centre and had numerous real estate holdings in the surrounding area. The end of the monastery’s heyday was put by a famous local revolutionary, Yane Sandanski, who together with his relatives seized real estate properties of the monastery. Nowadays, the monastery is well maintained and open to visitors all around the year. The monastery’s holiday is on September 8, when people from all over the area gather to take part in the celebrations.

Rozhen Monastery, Bulgaria

Rozhen monastery The inner yard.

Rozhen Monastery region view from above

The Rozhen monastery is the biggest sanctuary in the Pirin region and one of the few Bulgarian monasteries of the Middle Ages

Rozhen Monastery, Bulgarian Macedonia

Holy Trinity Church of Bansko

Tommy — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:22:00 +0000

The “Holy Trinity” Compound Temple presents one of the greatest historic and cultural landmarks of the town of Bansko. Local masters built the church in 1835, its architectural type being three – nave pseudo – basilica; the initiative and the material assistance belonged to Lazar German, an influential merchant. The mural paintings are the work of Velian Ognev – representative of the Debar School of painting; Dimitar and Simeon Mollerov – the notorious masters from Bansko Iconographic School – draw the icons.

The church presents a masterpiece of beautiful synthesis between architectural volumes and spaces, woodcarving, frescos and icons. Its grand silhouette is in perfect harmony with 30 – meter high bell tower built in the close proximity.

The Bulgarian National Revival-style Church of the Holy Trinity in Bansko, built in 1835

Holy Trinity Church of Bansko, Bulgaria

Holy Trinity Church of Bansko in winter

The Rupite area, Bulgaria

Tommy — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:44:50 +0000

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Rupite is a village which includes a small mountainous protected area in the southeastern part Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria, 10-12 kilometres northeast of Petrich, on the right bank of the Struma River. It is best known as the place where the Bulgarian medium Baba Vanga lived and was buried. The area is in fact the crater of an extinct volcano, its appearance being shaped by the volcanic hill of Kozhuh, the thermal springs and Pchelina Hill. The village has 1,124 inhabitants.

The Rupite area, Bulgaria

Rupite protected area, Bulgaria

The Rupite area, Bulgaria

Vihren Peak, Pirin

Tommy — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:10:36 +0000

Vihren (Bulgarian: Вихрен) is the highest peak of Bulgaria’s Pirin Mountains. Reaching 2914 m, it is Bulgaria’s second and the Balkans’ third highest, after Musala and Mount Olympus The peak is located in Pirin’s northern parts. The easiest route is from the Vihren chalet (2,000 m), reaching the summit from the south. Other routes include those from Banderitsa chalet (1,800 m) or across the ridge Koncheto from the north. A number of Pirin’s lakes are located around the peak.

Pirin - Vihren peak - 2914 m

Vihren peak, Pirin mountain

Vihren Peak, Pirin, Bulgaria

Pirin-Peak Vihren 2914m and Big Vlahino lake

Rilski Manastir (Rila Monastery), Bulgaria

Tommy — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:34:09 +0000

Located 120km (75 miles) south of Sofia, the Rila Monastery is one of the most significant cultural monuments in Bulgaria, set dramatically within the beautiful alpine mountains of Rila National Park. The first monastery was founded by followers of the Bulgarian hermit St John of Rila in the 10th century. Monastic life continued at Rila throughout five centuries of Ottoman domination, but extensive fire damage means most of the buildings date from the 19th century.

The central church’s outer walls are richly decorated with colourful scenes from the Bible, with well-detailed accounts of the torments of sinners in hell. Visitors can stay overnight in a sparse ‘cell’ before setting off to explore Rila National Park, where clearly marked mountain paths take walkers through dense pine forests. A bus to Dupnitza village leaves every day at 0800, from the central bus station in Sofia. Connecting buses to Rila village depart at 1000 and 1100, departing from Rila village for the monaste

Monastery Rilski manastir: Cupolas

Rilski Manastir (Rila Monastery) Bulgaria

Rilski Manastir Sofia

Rilski Manastir (Rila Monastery) Bulgaria

Rila monastery

Top attractions in Bulgaria

Tommy — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:19:16 +0000

Bulgaria is drawing travelers thanks to a great combination of sandy beaches, a rich cultural heritage, and developing eco-tourism.

Bulgaria. Romance of the sunny country

Everything from adventure tours to exploring historical cities can be enjoyed during Bulgaria holidays. As one of the most-visited tourist destinations in southeastern Europe, the news about this lively and varied country is spreading beyond Europeans.

While travel to Bulgaria has been dominated by Romanians, Greeks, and Germans, people from farther countries such as Italy, Ireland, and the USA are also arriving in steady numbers. Whether you’ve come for the mountain ski resorts or the charm of the capital city of Sofia, Bulgaria promises a vacation steeped in history and adventure.

Bulgaria top attractions:

Rilski Manastir (Rila Monastery)
Bansko — Velyanov House, Holy Trinity Church of Bansko
Pirin — Vihren Peak.
Dobarsko village — Theodore Tyro and Theodore Stratilates Church.
Melnik — Historical Museum of Melnik, Kordopulov House, Rozhen Monastery.
Petrich — the Rupite Area, St. Petka Church, Samuil’s Fortress.
Malko Tarnovo — Petrova Niva Site, Museum of History.
Nesebar — Architectural Reserve, Archaeological Museum.
Sozopol — Archaeological Museum.
Varna — Museum of History and the Maritime Museum.
Devnya — Museum of Mosaics.