Enjoy a day out at the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Better known as the Rila Monastery, it is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The Rila Monastery is located in 1147 meters altitude in the middle of the fragrant coniferous forests.
Explore the 8800 square meters complex with your self-guided tour including the dwellings and farming buildings. Admire the The Rila Monastery's unique architecture which from the outside resembles a fortress. It has 24-meter stone walls which form an irregular pentagon. When you enter the monastery's yard from one of the two iron gates you will be surprised by the arches and colonnades, covered wooden stairs and carved verandas and the 300-400 monastic cells.
Personalized reading material (PDF)
Tour guide
