Bachkovo Monastery


The Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest one in Bulgaria; it’s situated in the Rhodope Mountains, among the Chepelarska River valley.
Surrounded by high rocky peaks, the monastery is located 1km from Bachkovo, 10 km from Assenovgrad, 28 km from Plovdiv.

In the 11th century, Gregory Bakuriani, a Byzantine commander chose this wonderful place in the Rhodopes to spend his retirement. In 1083yrs, together with his brother called Abazii, they founded St. Bogoroditsa of Petrich Monastery.
The monastery has numerous real estates - from the Rhodopes to the Thracian plane. Tsar Kaloyan conquered the Rhodope Mountains, and the monastery was included into Bulgarian territory. Under Tzar Ivan Alexander, the monastery became an important institution. The Bulgarian patriarch Evtimii Tarnovski was exiled in the monastery after falling under Turkish yoke. Here he developed his literary work.

The monastery was burnt down several times and only the ossuary and the St. Archangel Church have been preserved in their original appearance. Wall paintings, dating 11 - 14 century, are among the most treasured in the history of Christianity in Eastern Europe.

Paintings of one of the famous Bulgarian artists - Zahari Zograf, have been preserved in the St. Troitsa and St. Nikola Church. Among the most interesting are the portraits of church- donors , such as the portrait of Tzar Ivan Aleksander. The most famous miraculous icon of Bororoditsa Eleusa with a silver repousse cover, dating 1310, has been also kept there. There is a collection of plates, icons, books, the sword of the crusader named Fridrih Babarosa, etc.

The monastery has bed accommodation capacity of about 200 people.