Bulgarian Monastery - a guide to the Bulgaria Monasteries. Churches and monasteries in Bulgaria.

What's new

  16/04/2012 - We have added photos from the Bistritsa Monastery St. Ioakim and Anna, situated near Bistritza quarter of Sofia.

  14/05/2009 - Bulgarian Monastery has its own page at Facebook. Become a fan to receive notifications for website updates.

  20/04/2009 - We have added the Batulia Monastery

  04/03/2009 - We have added information about the Bilintsi Monastery St. Archangel Michail

  21/01/2009 - We have added the Ustrem Monastery, the Erul Monastery and the Tran Monastery

  12/05/2008 - A big drive in Northeast Bulgaria - we have added information and photos of the monastery in St Constantina Helena resort, Balgarevo Monastery, Alexandria Monastery, Kamentsi Monastery, Aidemir Monastery, Syanovo Monastery and Karanvarbovski Monastery.

In the last few years, Bulgarian monasteries, which are closely connected to the historical fate of the Bulgarian state and nation, have witnessed increasing tourist interest. From the very start, monasteries have gained great importance as centres of the Bulgarian literature and culture and have preserved the nation's values during difficult times. Some of the monasteries, which date back to Byzantine times, have played a key role in keeping up the Bulgarians' spirit and self-consciousness during 5 centuries of Ottoman domination. Others were built in the late 20th century in the place of destroyed cloisters in order to restore past glory and respond to the religious needs of local people. Due to Ottoman invasions or merely to the course of time, only few of the still-functioning monasteries keep their original architecture and interior of the buildings. Nevertheless, the visit of each one of them leaves a lasting memory and a deep impression. Some impose on the visitor with their unique design, others - with their valuable icons and masterly wall paintings, third - with their location in most beautiful and wild parts of the country.
The purpose of this website is not to make a thorough review of all preserved monasteries in Bulgaria but to present only those of tourist value - either for their beautiful architecture and rich history, or the opportunity for a nice holiday in the monastery's complex, or merely the interesting stop these could represent for a traveller. Our team has visited all the included monasteries and has discussed the history of the cloister with a monk or nun in most of them. That makes us proud of giving you first-hand information and sharing with you our unique photos of these monasteries. We hope that you will enjoy browsing our site!