Rila Monastery in Bulgaria
There are places that justify a trip to a country and put you on the tourist map and in the case of Bulgaria that's him Rila monastery.
Declared World Heritage by Unesco, for visit the Rila Monastery you have to enter a winding and narrow road in a lush mountain landscape.
You may be surprised that in the case of one of the Bulgaria tourist icons Do not get on a wider road.
Great central courtyard of the Rila monastery in Bulgaria
But on your trip you will see that most of the orthodox monasteries that you are going to visit in that country are in hidden places, hidden between lush forests, because their isolation is one of the characteristics of them.
In the area where the Rila monastery, originally there was a community of monks scattered across the mountain.
Rila monastery history
In fact, the first Rila monastery It was founded in the 10th century near the cave where as a hermit the monk Ioan , now known as San Juan de Rila, was dedicated to fasting and prayer.
Wall paintings in the Rila monastery church in Bulgaria
Specifically, it was about 4 kilometers away from the current monastery that was built in the fourteenth century, and from the beginning it has been considered as the spiritual center of Bulgaria.
At present it is possible to reach this cave following a marked path, and a small church was built next to it.
In the seventeenth century the monastery building is destroyed, which led to its subsequent reconstruction.
Note that between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the monastery experienced a great boom as its monks opened about 50 convents in the most important places of Bulgaria.
Also during the time of occupation of the Turks, who came to Bulgaria At the end of the fourteenth century, the sultans themselves protected the monastery.
In the communist era, since 1961 it was considered a national museum, and after the fall of that regime, in 1991 the monastic activities were restored.
Gateway to the Rila Monastery in Bulgaria
The best thing to see in the visit of the monastery of Rila
He Rila monastery it was the first visit we made in our trip to Bulgaria with a tourism agency specializing in custom trips (here we tell you our very good experience).
But if you prefer to visit it on your own, you will see that it is located between the mountains at about 1100 meters of altitude.
When do you get to Rila monastery car park You can't imagine what you're going to see inside.
MEASURED TRIPS to BULGARIA with YONKA
To organize your trip to Bulgaria tailored to your preferences and needs, you can directly contact the VB agency of Yonka Bakardhieva through the following mail: [email protected] . Here we tell you how it went our very good experience, and don't forget to say that you write on behalf of Travel Guides!
At the entrance you will see a large stone wall with an access arch, an area that is part of the wall of about 22 meters high that surrounds the large enclosure of almost 9,000 square meters with a large central courtyard.
Wall paintings in the Rila monastery church in Bulgaria
Once you access the courtyard that serves as a cloister, in the center of it is a large church and a tower.
Jreliyova Tower in Rila Monastery
Known as Jreliyova Tower It is the oldest building preserved in the monastery, dating back to 1335, and in its time was a defensive tower of the monastery.
Throughout the interior of the walls there are several arch plants where the monks' cells are located, more than one hundred.
Rila Monastery Church
The building of the Rila monastery church that you can now see in the center of the great cloister is from 1837, and the great decoration with wall paintings from the outside galleries they announce what you will see inside.
Tower and church of the Rila monastery in Bulgaria
With five cross-shaped vaults, the interior shows an impressive decoration, being the iconostasis carved wood the place where the greatest artistic wealth is concentrated.
Specifically the wall paintings of the church and other corners of the monastery are from the 19th century, and were made by the best artists of the time,
During your trip through the country you will see that it is a type of decoration and themes common in all Bulgarian Orthodox churches.
Rila Monastery Museum
At Rila monastery you can also visit a Museum with artistic objects between the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries that reflect the history of this spiritual enclave.
Inner corner of the Rila monastery in Bulgaria
Among them you can see various gifts from the Turkish sultans and also from other countries, such as Russia.
They are also exposed icons of the best artists of the nineteenth century, and among all the objects highlights a wooden cross 1803 with 36 biblical scenes and more than 600 miniature figures.
In this museum that has some rooms in the basement, you can also see vestiges of the 14th century monastery.
Rila monastery opening hours
The visiting hours of the monastery of Rila They are every day, from 7 to 20 hours, and you can climb to the top of the tower, where there is a chapel, from June to September.
Rila Monastery in Bulgaria
You can visit the museum in summer from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm, and in winter, from October to May, from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Rila monastery ticket prices
Access to the monastery grounds and the church is free, and the Ticket prices to visit the museum It is 8 BGN (4 euros) for adults, 1 BGN (0.50 euros) for students, with a discount also for families.
How to get to the monastery of Rila
He Rila monastery It is 127 kilometers away south of Sofia, from where you must go on the A3 motorway, and it will take you more than an hour and a half.
