Destinations
Here are some highlights about the planned destinations. We will be adding more information and pictures soon. Click the links on each heading to see more information about the destination.
Monasteries
Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery is one of the most famous Bulgarian symbols. Not only is it the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, but also it is the most influential spiritual centre in the country and the second biggest monastery on the Balkan Peninsula. The relics of St John of Rila are housed in the monastery’s main church...Actually, the church's interior is extremely impressive, because the murals were painted between 1840 and 1848 by some of the finest artists of the time... The old Hermitage of the Assumption of St John of Rila is located to the east of the monastery. The church "Assumption of St. John of Rila" was built in 1746 around the old hermitage.
… Another important part of artistic richness of Rila Monastery is the collection of unique pieces of the art of woodcarving which have been preserved at the monastery museum.
Bachkovo Monastery
The monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria, was established in 1083 by the Great Domestik of Western Byzantine Garrisons, the Georgian, Grigorii Bakuriani. The most treasured item of the monastery, which is also held in the monastery’s church, is the miraculous Virgin Mary icon. It dates as far back as 1311, as it was a gift to the monastery from two Georgian travelers-Atanasii and Okrapir.
Troyan Monastery
Stauropegial Troyan monastery is the third biggest monastery in Bulgaria. According to the monastery’s chronicles, Troyan Monastery was established in the beginning of 17th century by several hermits who also brought with themselves the miracle-working icon of “Holy Virgin Troerouchitsa” (three-handed Holy Mother). Zahari Zograf, one of the most famous mural painters of the Revival Period, painted the frescoes in the monastery church which fascinate every visitor.
Sokolski Monastery
The icon of “Holy mother with the Son”, situated in a small iconostasis on the left side of the convent church, is believed to be wonder-working. Sokolski Monastery, including its frescoes, has been recently restored with EU funds. Its frescoes dated back to 1862 and were made by the priest Pavel and his son Nikolay Popovich, both from the village of Shipka.
Kilifarevo monastery
...The gold-plated iconostasis, a masterpiece, created in 1843 by two woodcarvers, Tsonyo and Simeon Vassilevi, a father and a son from Tryavna town, is preserved till the present day. Besides the iconostasis, the icons of the Tryavna iconpainters Dosyu Koev, Yonko Popvitanov impress the visitor of the Kilifarevo Monastery. The most famous icon, though, is the one depicting the secluded life of the hermit Ivan Rilski.
Rozhen Monastery
Rozhen Monastery owes its fame above all to its carved iconostases and incredible frescoes. The narthex of the main church is enriched with frescoes from the earliest period (16th century) and the majority of them depict scenes which illustrate the life of Christ Pantocrator after the Resurrection.
Notable Cities and Towns
Sofia
The capital--too much info to put here. See http://wikitravel.org/en/Sofia
Varna
City landmarks include the Varna Archaeological Museum, exhibiting the Gold of Varna, a cache of chalcolithic grave-goods, which constitute the oldest gold treasure in the world, the large and well preserved Roman Baths. The Sea Garden is the oldest and perhaps largest park containing the Varna Aquarium, the Varna Dolphinarium (opened 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, and other attractions. Notable old Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox churches include the metrpolitan Assumption of Mary Cathedral; the early 17th-century Theotokos Panagia; the St. Athanasius (former Greek etropolitan cathedral); the seamen's church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker; the Archangel Michael's chapel; and the Sts. Constantine and Helena church of the 16th century suburban monastery of the same name.
Plovdiv
The old center of Plovdiv is compact and walkable, with the main downtown road blocked to car traffic. There is a good collection of Bulgarian revival buildings in use as museums, hotels, and restaurants etc. and is worth a visit if you have chance. The nearby Roman Amphitheater, discovered in the 1970's during a construction project, is part of the pedestrian zone, and typically has merchants selling art and other items nearby. Wander the cobblestone streets near the downtown to find the centuries old St. Marina church with a unique wooden tower. To the south of the city there is the Bachkovo Monastery.
Nesebar
Nesebar is an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Nesebar is a rich city-museum defined by more than three millennia of ever-changing history. Nesebar is sometimes said to be the town with the highest number of churches per capita. Today, a total of forty churches survive, wholly or partly, in the vicinity of the town.
Etara near Gabrovo
… is recreation of a Bulgarian Revival Village, similar to what Gabrovo was like during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Built in the 1960s, the complex is home to a number of shops and crafts such as wood-carving, pottery, coppersmith crafts, furriery, cutlery making, needlework etc.
Tryvna
Interesting things to see include: the Museum of Icon-Painting and Wood-Curving treasures the one and only collection of Tryavna icons from the 17th to the turn of the 19th century. Over 160 original icons represent the creative output of the six renowned families of icon-painters.
St. Archangel Michael Church is an exceptionally valuable monument of culture dating back to the Middle Ages; it keeps an old cross with 12 scenes from the Bible wood-carved on it; the church iconostasis and the bishop's throne have been recognized as masterpieces of the Tryavna school of woodcarving.
Veliko Tarnovo
Make sure to visit the fortress of the old Bulgarian capital - Tsarevets. The city is divided into an old and new parts. The old city itself is a collection of traditional renaissance houses scattered over the hills around the river Yantra and the new part consists of a mixture of communistic and modern style buildings. There are various historical museums, located in Old Town, and an art museum on an island in the river.
Melnik
The unique architecture of Melnik and the nearby Rozhen Monastery (located 6 km southeast of Melnik) make it a popular tourist destination. The town is also associated with the impressive natural sand pyramids in various forms, resembling giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks, spread in an area of 17 km² near Melnik, Kurlanovo and Rozhen. The town has also been famous for producing a strong wine since at least 1346. The local wine was reportedly a favourite of Winston Churchill's.
Rila Monastery is one of the most famous Bulgarian symbols. Not only is it the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, but also it is the most influential spiritual centre in the country and the second biggest monastery on the Balkan Peninsula. The relics of St John of Rila are housed in the monastery’s main church...Actually, the church's interior is extremely impressive, because the murals were painted between 1840 and 1848 by some of the finest artists of the time... The old Hermitage of the Assumption of St John of Rila is located to the east of the monastery. The church "Assumption of St. John of Rila" was built in 1746 around the old hermitage.
… Another important part of artistic richness of Rila Monastery is the collection of unique pieces of the art of woodcarving which have been preserved at the monastery museum.
Bachkovo Monastery
The monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria, was established in 1083 by the Great Domestik of Western Byzantine Garrisons, the Georgian, Grigorii Bakuriani. The most treasured item of the monastery, which is also held in the monastery’s church, is the miraculous Virgin Mary icon. It dates as far back as 1311, as it was a gift to the monastery from two Georgian travelers-Atanasii and Okrapir.
Troyan Monastery
Stauropegial Troyan monastery is the third biggest monastery in Bulgaria. According to the monastery’s chronicles, Troyan Monastery was established in the beginning of 17th century by several hermits who also brought with themselves the miracle-working icon of “Holy Virgin Troerouchitsa” (three-handed Holy Mother). Zahari Zograf, one of the most famous mural painters of the Revival Period, painted the frescoes in the monastery church which fascinate every visitor.
Sokolski Monastery
The icon of “Holy mother with the Son”, situated in a small iconostasis on the left side of the convent church, is believed to be wonder-working. Sokolski Monastery, including its frescoes, has been recently restored with EU funds. Its frescoes dated back to 1862 and were made by the priest Pavel and his son Nikolay Popovich, both from the village of Shipka.
Kilifarevo monastery
...The gold-plated iconostasis, a masterpiece, created in 1843 by two woodcarvers, Tsonyo and Simeon Vassilevi, a father and a son from Tryavna town, is preserved till the present day. Besides the iconostasis, the icons of the Tryavna iconpainters Dosyu Koev, Yonko Popvitanov impress the visitor of the Kilifarevo Monastery. The most famous icon, though, is the one depicting the secluded life of the hermit Ivan Rilski.
Rozhen Monastery
Rozhen Monastery owes its fame above all to its carved iconostases and incredible frescoes. The narthex of the main church is enriched with frescoes from the earliest period (16th century) and the majority of them depict scenes which illustrate the life of Christ Pantocrator after the Resurrection.
Notable Cities and Towns
Sofia
The capital--too much info to put here. See http://wikitravel.org/en/Sofia
Varna
City landmarks include the Varna Archaeological Museum, exhibiting the Gold of Varna, a cache of chalcolithic grave-goods, which constitute the oldest gold treasure in the world, the large and well preserved Roman Baths. The Sea Garden is the oldest and perhaps largest park containing the Varna Aquarium, the Varna Dolphinarium (opened 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, and other attractions. Notable old Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox churches include the metrpolitan Assumption of Mary Cathedral; the early 17th-century Theotokos Panagia; the St. Athanasius (former Greek etropolitan cathedral); the seamen's church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker; the Archangel Michael's chapel; and the Sts. Constantine and Helena church of the 16th century suburban monastery of the same name.
Plovdiv
The old center of Plovdiv is compact and walkable, with the main downtown road blocked to car traffic. There is a good collection of Bulgarian revival buildings in use as museums, hotels, and restaurants etc. and is worth a visit if you have chance. The nearby Roman Amphitheater, discovered in the 1970's during a construction project, is part of the pedestrian zone, and typically has merchants selling art and other items nearby. Wander the cobblestone streets near the downtown to find the centuries old St. Marina church with a unique wooden tower. To the south of the city there is the Bachkovo Monastery.
Nesebar
Nesebar is an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Nesebar is a rich city-museum defined by more than three millennia of ever-changing history. Nesebar is sometimes said to be the town with the highest number of churches per capita. Today, a total of forty churches survive, wholly or partly, in the vicinity of the town.
Etara near Gabrovo
… is recreation of a Bulgarian Revival Village, similar to what Gabrovo was like during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Built in the 1960s, the complex is home to a number of shops and crafts such as wood-carving, pottery, coppersmith crafts, furriery, cutlery making, needlework etc.
Tryvna
Interesting things to see include: the Museum of Icon-Painting and Wood-Curving treasures the one and only collection of Tryavna icons from the 17th to the turn of the 19th century. Over 160 original icons represent the creative output of the six renowned families of icon-painters.
St. Archangel Michael Church is an exceptionally valuable monument of culture dating back to the Middle Ages; it keeps an old cross with 12 scenes from the Bible wood-carved on it; the church iconostasis and the bishop's throne have been recognized as masterpieces of the Tryavna school of woodcarving.
Veliko Tarnovo
Make sure to visit the fortress of the old Bulgarian capital - Tsarevets. The city is divided into an old and new parts. The old city itself is a collection of traditional renaissance houses scattered over the hills around the river Yantra and the new part consists of a mixture of communistic and modern style buildings. There are various historical museums, located in Old Town, and an art museum on an island in the river.
Melnik
The unique architecture of Melnik and the nearby Rozhen Monastery (located 6 km southeast of Melnik) make it a popular tourist destination. The town is also associated with the impressive natural sand pyramids in various forms, resembling giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks, spread in an area of 17 km² near Melnik, Kurlanovo and Rozhen. The town has also been famous for producing a strong wine since at least 1346. The local wine was reportedly a favourite of Winston Churchill's.
Want to know more?
To learn more about Bulgaria, visit Lonely Planet's extensive guide.