Sofia Architecture Week 2013

November 22, 2013

Plovdiv City - Places to visit in Plovdiv - must-visit places

10 must-visit places in Plovdiv; Part 1

December 8, 2013

The Bachkovo Monastery

Published by freeplovdivtour at November 24, 2013

Bulgarian Monasteries

Bulgaria is a country with rich cultural heritage and important parts of this heritage are the Bulgarian monasteries. These unique temples are not only historical and architectural landmarks but also symbols of the Bulgarian spiritual power which preserved the Christian faith during many turbulent times.

The Bachkovo Monastery is our next must-see place in the Plovdiv region (pronounced “Bachkovski manastir”). This beautiful landmark is situated 29 km south from Plovdiv and 9 km away from Asenovgrad, in the valley of the Chepelarska river in the Western Rodopi mountain. The monastery is only 10 km south from Asen’s fortress so you can combine the two landmarks on a single trip and go on an exciting Bulgarian adventure!

The monasteries have played an important role in our history. They are beacons of traditional Bulgarian and Christian culture. Many of them have impressive architecture and unique interior. The magnificent wood-carving works and wall – paintings also contribute to the one of a kind atmosphere in the Bulgarian temples. Some of the biggest monasteries treasure miraculous icons that gather many Christians during holidays. There is such an icon in the Bachkovo Monastery as well. The sacred image of St. Mary there is believed to cure the ill and to help the childless.

History of The Bachkovo Monastery

Photo Source: Wikipedia.org

The Bachkovo monastery was built in 1083 by two brothers of Byzantine and Georgian origin. It is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria after the Rila monastery. The unique landmark consists of several buildings – the main church “Sv. Bogoroditsa”(„Св. Богородица”, “Saint Mary”), the “Sv. Arhangeli” (“Св. Архангели”,“Saint Archangels”) and the “Sv. Nikola”(„Св. Никола”, “Saint Nicholas”) churches, Starata trapezaria (Старата трапезария, the Old dining room) and Kostnitzata (Костницата, the Ossuary). The Bachkovo monastery has managed to preserve the spirit of three cultures – the Byzantine, the Bulgarian and the Georgian one.

How to get to The Bachkovo Monastery:

By car

The most comfortable way to reach the monastery is by car. You just take the Plovdiv boulevard “Asenovgradsko shose” and drive south-east until you exit the city(if you can’t find the boulevard, check the instructions in our previous blog about Asen’s fortress ). The “Asenovgradsko shose” unites with road № 86 connecting Plovdiv and Asenovgrad. Drive straight and after fifteen minutes you will reach the city of Asenovgrad. Then stay on the same road and soon you will pass along the Asen’s fortress. Don’t leave road № 86 for another 10 km (approximately 15 min) and you will enter the village of Bachkovo.

The monastery is about a kilometer south from the center of the village and if you keep driving on the same road you will see a sign “Бачковски манастир” (the Bachkovo monastery) indicating an exit on the left . Take the road on the left and it will lead you to the monastery.

By bus:

Another convenient way to reach the Bachkovo monastery is to take a bus from Plovdiv. Because Bachkovo is a small village and there is not a separate bus line connecting it with Plovdiv. The village is a stop for the buses connecting Plovdiv and another Bulgarian city – Smolyan (Смолян). That’s why you have to buy a ticket for Bachkovo, but you will get on a bus for Smolyan. Unlike the buses to Asenovgrad which leave from bus station “South”, the buses for Smolyan leave from bus station “Rodopi”. However, the two bus stations are very close to each other.

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