Monastery
Bulgaria's most famous Orthodox monastery can be found about 120 km south of Sofia, tucked away in a valley between the peaks of the Rila Mountains. This is where its name comes from. It lies at an altitude of 1,173 metres. [btn "Find accommodations in Rila" https://booking.com/landmark/bg/rila-monastery.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-bulharsko-klaster-rila] The monastery was founded in the 10th century by St. Ivan of Rila and has been a…
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Mountain, Monument
The over 1,400-metre-high peak in the central Stara Planina mountain range is known mainly for its monumental and brutalist concrete monument, the shape of which resembles a flying saucer. It was built in the 1970s as a memorial to the Bulgarian Communist Party and until the late 1980s served as a venue for party events, festivals and welcoming foreign delegations. Since 1990, the monument has fallen into disrepair and attracts lovers of…
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Fortification, Mountain
Take a day trip from Sofia to northeastern Bulgaria and you'll encounter a phenomenon straight out of Lord of the Rings. Near the town of Belogradchik, you'll come across ethereal-looking rock formations stretching for several kilometres along the foothills of the Stara Planina Mountains, which are surrounded by fortifications from the Roman Empire. Later they underwent many modifications and their current appearance dates back to the 19th…
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Historic building, Tourist town, Resort
One of Bulgaria's most beautiful resorts, Nessebar boasts beaches and a UNESCO-listed historic centre.
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