Country guide

Bulgaria

13 sacred sites across 8 regions.

Traditions present in Bulgaria

Thracian3 Christian1 Eastern Orthodox1 Bektashi Order1 Bulgarian Orthodox1

Prominent site types

archaeological_site2 Monastery2 Temple Complex1 Tumulus1 Thracian rock sanctuary1 church1

Haskovo

1 sites

Thracian

Dolni Glavanak Cromlech

Dolni Glavanak, Haskovo, Bulgaria

Dolni Glavanak Cromlech in Dolni Glavanak, Haskovo, Bulgaria.

Kardzhali

1 sites

Perperikon

Gorna Krepost, Kardzhali, Bulgaria

Perperikon is a site of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 41.71662, 25.46863. Perperikon (Bulgarian: Перперикон), also Perpericum, is an ancient Thracian city located in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, 15 km northeast of the present-day town of Kardzhali, Bulgaria on a 470 m high rocky hill, which is thought to have been a sacred place. The village of Gorna krepost ( Upper Fortress ) is located at the foot of the hill and the gold-bearing Perpereshka River flows nearby. Perperikon is the largest megalith ensemble site in the Balkans. In the Middle Ages Perperikon served as a fortress. Located in Кърджали, Bulgaria.

Kyustendil

1 sites

Rila

Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Rila is a site of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 42.13338, 23.34012. Rila (Bulgarian: Рила, pronounced [ˈriɫɐ]) is the highest mountain range of Bulgaria, the Balkan Peninsula, and Southeast Europe. It is situated in southwestern Bulgaria and forms part of the Rila–Rhodope Massif. The highest summit is Musala at an elevation of 2,925 m which makes Rila the sixth highest mountain range in Europe after the Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees and Mount Etna, and the highest one between the Alps and the Caucasus. It spans a territory of 2,629 km2 with an average elevation of 1487 m. The mountain is believed to have been named after the river of the same name, which comes from the Old Bulgarian verb рыти meaning to grub . Rila has abundant water resources. Some of the Balkans longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including the Maritsa, Iskar and Mesta rivers. Bulgaria s main water divide separating the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea drainage systems follows the main ridge of Rila. The mountain range is dotted with almost 200 glacial lakes such as the renowned Seven Rila Lakes, and is rich in hot springs in the fault areas at the foothills, including the hottest spring in South-eastern Europe in Sapareva Banya. The mountain range has varied flora and fauna with a number of endemic and relict species and some of the best preserved forests in the country. The biodiversity and the pristine landscapes are protected by Rila National Park which covers much of the mountain; the rest lies within Rila Monastery Nature Park. In addition, there are five nature reserves: Parangalitsa, Central Rila Reserve, Rila Monastery Forest, Ibar and Skakavitsa. The most recognisable landmark of the mountain range is the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria s largest and most important monastery, founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila. Due to its outstanding cultural and spiritual value it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Rila is also a popular destination for hiking, winter sports and spa tourism, hosting the nation s oldest ski resort Borovets, as well as numerous hiking trails. Some of the most important hydro power stations in Bulgaria are situated in the eastern part of the mountain range, including the Belmeken–Sestrimo–Chaira Hydropower Cascade (1,599 MW), the largest and most complex hydroelectric complex in Bulgaria. Located in Кюстендил, Bulgaria.

Pernik

1 sites

Sacred pit of Garlo, Bulgaria

Krasava, Pernik, Bulgaria

Sacred pit of Garlo, Bulgaria is a site of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 42.78708, 22.84821. Located in Перник, Bulgaria.

Plovdiv

6 sites

Christian

Bachkovo Monastery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Bachkovo, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Bachkovo Monastery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria is a monastery of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 41.94174, 24.84972. Attributes: built, cultural, pilgrimage. Tradition: Christian. Associated figure: Virgin Mary. Located in Пловдив, Bulgaria.

Thracian

Belintash

Near Mostovo (central Rhodope Mountains), Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Belintash in Near Mostovo (central Rhodope Mountains), Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Chetinyova Mogila

Krasnovo, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Chetinyova Mogila is a temple complex of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 42.51190, 24.54706. Attributes: built, cultural, archaeological. Located in Пловдив, Bulgaria.

Horizont tumulus, Kozi Gramadi

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Horizont tumulus, Kozi Gramadi is a tumulus of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 42.56408, 24.56587. Attributes: built, cultural, archaeological. Located in Пловдив, Bulgaria.

Thracian

Karadjov kamak, Mostovo

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Karadjov kamak, Mostovo is a thracian rock sanctuary of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 41.82335, 24.95078. Attributes: natural, cultural, archaeological, ceremonial. Tradition: Thracian. Mythological context: Thracian. Located in Пловдив, Bulgaria.

Eastern Orthodox

Sveta Bogoroditsa Church

Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Sveta Bogoroditsa Church in Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Razgrad

1 sites

Bektashi Order

Demir Baba Teke, near the village of Sveshtari, Bulgaria

Malak Porovets, Razgrad, Bulgaria

Demir Baba Teke, near the village of Sveshtari, Bulgaria is a tekke of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 43.73928, 26.75201. Attributes: built, cultural, pilgrimage, ceremonial. Tradition: Bektashi Order. Associated figure: Demir Baba. Located in Малък Поровец, Разград, Bulgaria.

Ruse

1 sites

Bulgarian Orthodox

Basarbovo Monastery

Basarbovo, Ruse, Bulgaria

Basarbovo Monastery is a monastery of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 43.76666, 25.96485. Attributes: built, cultural, pilgrimage. Tradition: Bulgarian Orthodox. Associated figure: St. Dimitar Basarbovski. Mythological context: Christianity. Basarbovo Monastery (Bulgarian: Басарбовски манастир) – the Monastery of Saint Dimitar Basarbowski – is a Bulgarian Orthodox cave monastery near the city of Ruse in north-eastern Bulgaria. It has the same name as the nearby village of Basarbovo and lies about 35 metres above the river Rusenski Lom, south of the Danube. Although founded during the Second Bulgarian Empire, the oldest written mention of the monastery dates to the 15th century in an Ottoman tax register. The monastery became famous in the 17th century after the death of St. Dimitar Basarbovski, whom St Paisiy Hilendarski talks about in the book Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya. St. Dimitar Basarbovski was a shepherd and led an ascetic life in the rocks of the monastery. He died in 1685. He was buried in the village church, but during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774, General Pyotr Saltykov agreed to transfer his relics to Russia. The road passed through Romania. At that time, that region was suffering through a plague epidemic. The legend tells that when the saint s relics entered Bucharest, people stopped dying from the plague. The residents of the town asked the General to leave the saint s body there. Today his relics are located in Bucharest in the St. St. Constantine and Elena Church. In 1937, Father Hrisant settled in Basarbovo Monastery and revived it. The monastery celebrates its patron on October 26, St. Dimitar s Day. It is the only active cave monastery in the modern history of Bulgaria. It was named a historical landmark in 1978. Located in Басарбово, Русе, Bulgaria.

Stara Zagora

1 sites

Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak

Kazanlak, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak is a site of sacred significance. Approximate coordinates: 42.62584, 25.39916. Located in Казанлък, Стара Загора, Bulgaria.