Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Plovdiv
BACHKOVO MONASTERY
About 30km south of Plovdiv, the magnificent
Bachkovo Monastery
(Bachkovo; admis-
sion free; 6am-10pm)
was founded in 1083 by Georgian brothers Gregory and Abasius
Bakuriani, aristocrats in Byzantine military service. The monastery flourished during the
Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) but was ransacked by Turks in the 15th and 16th
centuries. Major reconstructions began in the mid-17th century. Bachkovo's now Bul-
garia's second-largest monastery, after Rila.
In the courtyard, the
Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa
(1604) contains frescoes by Zahari
Zograf from the early 1850s. Other highlights include the 17th-century iconostasis, more
19th-century murals and a much- cherished icon of the Virgin, allegedly painted by St
Luke, though actually dating from the 14th century. Pilgrims regularly pray before the
silver-encased icon.
The monastery's southern side houses the former
refectory
(1601). The walls are filled
with stunning frescoes relating the monastery's history. A gate beside the refectory leads
to a (rarely open) courtyard; this leads to the
Church of Sveti Nikolai
(1836). During the
1840s, Zograf painted the superb
Last Judgment
inside the chapel; note the condemned,
nervous-looking Turks on the right and Zograf's self-portrait (no beard) in the upper-left
corner.
Around 50m from the monastery entrance, the restored
Ossuary
features wonderful
medieval murals, but it remains closed.
A prominent explanation board provides monastic history (in English, French and Ger-
man), and a map of
hiking trails
to nearby villages. The helpful guidebook (15 lv) is
available too.
Sleeping & Eating
Bachkovo Monastery offers austere older rooms with shared bathrooms, and newer ones
with their own bathrooms, for 20 lv per person and 40 lv per person, respectively. Enquire
upstairs in the reception office.
Echo Hotel $
( 048-981 068; d incl breakfast 50 lv; )
On the other side of the road, and river, from
the Bachkovo Monastery turn-off, this small place offers quiet, comfortable rooms.
HOTEL
