Visit the Top Bulgarian Landmark – Rila Monastery

Day Trip to Rila Monastery and the Stobs Pyramids

Rila monastery is the Top tourist attraction in Bulgaria which you must definitely visit during your tour in Bulgaria. The monastery keeps precious manuscripts, old printed books and ancient documents. Its location makes it easily accessible from the capital and the most famous day tour from Sofia and winter resorts. On the way to the Rila Monastery you’ll pass near the Stob village which rises a group of peculiar pyramids. They’re a nature sight with legends surrounding their arising. They stand as towers of conical shape, adorned with formations looking like hats.

Please, keep in mind that the pick up locations you will find in the detailed programs bellow are not the only places we can start the tour to Rila monastery. Send us a requirement with convenient place for you to start and we’ll create a route for you.

More About the Rila Monastery

In the western part of the Rila mountain, at an altitude of 1,150meters, near the Pastra village, is located the Rila Monastery complex. It can be reached via the Sofia – Kulata international highway; the side road to the monastery deviates from the Kocherinovo village, and after about 30 kilometers reaches the complex. There is regular public transport from Sofia and from the nearby towns.  

Rila Monastery is a much visited sight, not only because it is part of the UNESCO list of precious heritage sights. It is scenically located in the upper section of the Rilska river basin, and above it rises the greenery clad Rila mountain. The monastery’s founder was Ivan Rilski who established it in the 10^th century. The Rilska river flows past, and the Pastra village lies nearby. The imposing building of the Rila monastery dating from the 18^th century rises in five floors, four of which can be seen. That is a peculiarity which was necessitated during the building period, imposed by the Ottoman rulers. The Rila monastery museum is arranged on the ground floor.

The Rila Monastery is of the stavropegial type, which means it is directly under the main country’s church authorities rule, not subject to the regional church authorities. Founded by a hermit, Saint Ivan, who was proclaimed a saint after his death, it was ravaged by fires several times and the buildings were built in different periods.  

One of the symbols of the Rila Monastery is the tower named after Hrelyo, a local ruler. It is the oldest preserved building in the whole Rila monastery complex. On top of the tower, a chapel boasts precious 14th century frescoes.

Details about the Stob’s Pyramides

The Stob’s pyramids are located close to the village of Stob, in the western part of the Rila Mountain, Bulgaria. The average height of the pyramids is between 7 and 10 meters, but some individual pyramids reach heights of 12 meters.
On the northern slope of the hill the pyramids are more pronounced and distinct, since they are significantly less. Most pyramids are located on the southern slope of the hill. Here, the pyramids are larger and concentrated. The color of the rocks varies between yellow and brown. In 1964, the pyramids were declared a natural landmark.