The Kalofer monks’ monastery “Nativity of Mother of God” is situated some 7km away from the town of Kalofer in northern direction. The monastery lies in a picturesque valley on the bank of the Byala Reka river, surrounded by hills of the Balkan mountain. The entrance to the Central Balkan national park and the Byala Reka complex can be seen some 200m behind the monastery. An eco-trail named “Byala Reka” that is a part of the Byala Reka complex (the latter including also the Byala Reka camp and a children center for survival in the wild “Dzhendema”) starts close to the monastery, too.

It is known that the monastery “Nativity of Mother of God” was established in 1640. The exact date of its destruction has not reached us, but it was reconstructed in 1819. During the Russian-Turkish War in 1877 at a time when the Russian troops temporarily withdrew, the monastery as many others in the region was not saved by the Turks and was ruined down. Its penultimate restoration happened in 1881. On the occasion of the celebration of Bulgaria’s 1300 years of existence in 1981, the Kalofer monastery “Nativity of Mother of God” was thoroughly refurbished and supplied with water. Its restoration started in 1981 and ended in 1984. The church was painted in 2003 by Mihail Minkov from the town of Plovdiv and Nanko Nankov from the town of Shumen. The official church holiday is marked on the 8th of September.

The monastery offers accommodation in apartments and rooms with 4 beds. The price of an apartment with a WC/bathroom per night was 28 leva (7 leva per person) in September 2007, while the price of a room without a WC/bathroom was 20 leva (5 leva per person). Food is not offered. Some 50m. away from the monastery one can have a snack, barbecued meat or a salad in a simple coffee shop.

The monastery can be reached down a relatively good road. Even if dirty at places, the road is still acceptable for a limousine. It is advisable to ask for the direction in the town of Kalofer.

0884 596417; 0888 639999