Rila Monastery is absolutely the top sight in Bulgaria, above the superb capital, Sophia, above a trip to picturesque Plovdiv.
Rila Monastery and tree. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Rila Monastery, Bulgaria. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
The pictures speak for themselves. The outer walls and ceilings are decorated with religious themes and moral murals from Adam and Eve and the serpent tempting them to eat the apple, onwards.
What will it cost you in time and money? We hired a car for the day and drove there from our walking tour centre of Borovets. Other costs were the parking outside 5 Leva. No charge to go into the monastery nor to enter the main church, however extra for the museum, or a guidebook, or a human guide, or to climb the tower.
A panel in the entry arch gives you the basics. To summarise: the area was the refuge for a hermit. After several years of being alone, communing with God, the holy recluse gathered a huge crowd of disciples and ended up with this magnificent, monastery. You might like to read about the history in advance.
Make sure in the church to see the grave of the last king, who loved the monastery so much that he built a railway out towards it.
The complex has two shops selling books, cards, religious items, red rosary bead bracelets. Also an eatery at the back.
About the author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Rila Monastery and tree. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Rila Monastery, Bulgaria. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
The pictures speak for themselves. The outer walls and ceilings are decorated with religious themes and moral murals from Adam and Eve and the serpent tempting them to eat the apple, onwards.
What will it cost you in time and money? We hired a car for the day and drove there from our walking tour centre of Borovets. Other costs were the parking outside 5 Leva. No charge to go into the monastery nor to enter the main church, however extra for the museum, or a guidebook, or a human guide, or to climb the tower.
A panel in the entry arch gives you the basics. To summarise: the area was the refuge for a hermit. After several years of being alone, communing with God, the holy recluse gathered a huge crowd of disciples and ended up with this magnificent, monastery. You might like to read about the history in advance.
Make sure in the church to see the grave of the last king, who loved the monastery so much that he built a railway out towards it.
The complex has two shops selling books, cards, religious items, red rosary bead bracelets. Also an eatery at the back.
About the author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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