Bulgaria Inside

Chiprovtsi Monastery St. Ivan Rilski is situated 30 km away from the town of Montana and five km away from Chiprovtsi.

The monastery was constructed in the 10th century and for decades acted as a spiritual and cultural center.

Since its creation, Chiprovtsi Monastery has been destroyed and burned down six times. Believers put significant effort and managed to restore the monastery each time.

St. Ivan Rilski suffered heaviest destruction after the Chiprovtsi uprising in 1688. The sanctuary was robbed and its rich library was burned down.

The monastery complex consists of a church, a residential building, a three-storey tower, a chapel and a bell tower. The tower acts as an ossuary where the remains of Bulgarians killed in the Chiprovtsi uprising are still protected.

St. Ivan Rilski church is situated in the center of the monastery complex. Make sure to explore carefully the exterior stone decoration and the arched window that depicts a cross and a rose. The church itself is small and covered in stone throughout.

The Russian Orthodox Church donated the monastery with a silver-encased gospel, which is today preserved in the National Museum of History.

Chiprovtsi Monastery offers no accommodation but is located just five km away from Chiprovtsi. There, you will find both hotels and restaurants. To reach the monastery, take the road from Belimel village to Zhelezna. You will see a road diversion leading towards the sanctuary.