Rila Monastery
★ 4.8🇧🇬 RilaSuggested visit 2-3 hoursBest season May to October, when the mountain road is clear
World HeritageReligious siteHistoric site
The largest Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, its striped arcades and frescoes forming the Balkans' most striking religious ensemble.
Overview
Founded in the 10th century by the hermit Saint Ivan of Rila, the monastery's present buildings date from a 19th-century rebuilding. Black-and-white striped arcades ring the courtyard, and the main church is covered inside and out with vivid frescoes, the Last Judgment among the most famous. A museum holds treasures including a carved wooden cross. It joined the World Heritage List in 1983.
History
Created in the 10th century by Saint Ivan of Rila, it moved to its present site in the 14th century and was rebuilt after a fire in the 19th.
Highlights
- •The striped arcaded courtyard
- •The frescoes of the main church
- •The museum and its carved wooden cross
- •The monastery against the mountains
Practical tips
- •Dress modestly; women may wish to carry a headscarf
- •Guest rooms can be booked for a taste of monastic routine
Practical information
- Best time
- May-October
- Tickets
- Free; museum about BGN 8
- Opening hours
- 6:00-21:00
- Local food
- Bulgarian yoghurt, ajvar, banitsa
- Getting around
- About 120 km from Sofia, roughly two hours by car.
- Visa
- A Schengen visa is required (Bulgaria is now in the Schengen area); apply about a month in advance.
Traveller reviews
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