Rila Monastery

Introducing Rila Monastery

Bulgaria’s largest and most renowned monastery emerges abruptly out of a forested valley in the Rila Mountains. It’s a major attraction for both Bulgarian pilgrims and foreign tourists. On summer weekends, the hordes descend and parking can be tough. In the low season, however, the monastery provides much more solitude. Staying over at a nearby hotel or camping ground, or even at the monastery itself, allows you to experience Rila’s photogenic early mornings and late evenings. You can also hike in the surrounding mountains.

Rila Monastery was founded in AD 927 by Ivan Rilski, leader of a monastic colony of hermits. Originally built 3km to the northeast, it was moved to its current location in 1335. By the 14th century’s end, Rila Monastery was a powerful feudal fiefdom and, while plundered early in the 15th century, was restored in 1469, after Rilski’s sacred relics were returned from Veliko Târnovo. The monastery helped preserve Bulgarian culture and religion during the Ottoman centuries, despite being destroyed by them often over the years.

An accident, however, caused Rila’s greatest modern catastrophe: a fire in 1833 nearly engulfed all of the monastery’s buildings. So many donations were received afterwards from various patrons that rebuilding commenced within a year – clearly indicating the monastery’s importance and reverence to Bulgarians. It was proclaimed a national museum in 1961 by the communist government, and made a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009