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Rila Monastery |
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One of the most beautiful in Bulgaria, it
is nestled in a narrow valley in the Rila mountain.
Extraordinary architectural style and a lot of history -
this would be the briefest description of the monastery. It
was founded by the hermit Ivan Rilski in the 10th century
(927 AD). It had been sacked and burned down many times
throughout history, the last of which being in the year
1833. It was rebuilt on a grand scale and still retains that
appearance.
The magnificent church, with its three
domes, is lined with 1200 frescoes depicting biblical
figures and donors. |
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There's also a gilded iconostasis with
36 biblical scenes. The museums house religious art as well
as folk costumes and household implements.
The cave where Ivan Rilski lived, and
where he is now buried, is situated in the forest near the
monastery, and according to a local legend, those who can
pass through the hole in the roof of the cave have not
sinned. Since one has to be quite chubby to touch the sides,
the legend is very popular. There is accommodation in the
monastery.
One of the most beautiful in Bulgaria, it
is nestled in a narrow valley in the Rila mountain.
Extraordinary architectural style and a
lot of history - this would be the briefest description of
the monastery. It was founded by the hermit Ivan Rilski in
the 10th century (927 AD).
It had been sacked and burned down many
times throughout history, the last of which being in the
year 1833. It was rebuilt on a grand scale and still retains
that appearance.
The magnificent church, with its three
domes, is lined with 1200 frescoes depicting biblical
figures and donors. There's also a gilded iconostasis with
36 biblical scenes. The museums house religious art as well
as folk costumes and household implements.
The cave where Ivan Rilski lived, and
where he is now buried, is situated in the forest near the
monastery, and according to a local legend, those who can
pass through the hole in the roof of the cave have not
sinned. Since one has to be quite chubby to touch the sides,
the legend is very popular. There is accommodation in the
monastery. |
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Bansko |
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Bansko is a town, 925 meters above the
sea level, with a population of 15,000 inhabitants. Founded
in the 9th-10th centuries, it reached its cultural peak in
the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the houses still have
the appearance that had some 150 years ago. In recent years
Bansko has made a name for itself as an ideal place to spend
one's vacation, especially one's winter vacation. It has a
new tourist infrastructure.
Bansko is the hometown of the great
Bulgarian poet Nikola Vaptsaroff. You can visit the house
where he lived, which is now turned into a museum. |
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There are also two old
churches:
(1) The St. Trinity Church
(Sveta Troitsa) with its 30-meter-tall
bell tower was built in 1885 and is the biggest
church in that area.
(2)
St. Mother Mary Church
which dates back to the period of the Second
Bulgarian State (12th-14th centuries).
As to skiing opportunities, Bansko is the third most
visited tourist centre after Pamporovo and Borovets. |
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There are three skiing zones:
(1) Chalin Válog - 3 km away from
Bansko; two ski runs available.
(2) Shiligárnica - 1,800 meters
above the sea level; 10 km from Bansko. There are
four ski-tracks (total length - 12 km). A cable railway will
also be at your disposal.
(3) Banderishka Poliana - suitable
for ski mountaineering. You can climb as high as
2,600 meters above sea level with the cable railway. |