Rila Monastery
This beautiful monastery, nestled in the mountains south of Sofia, is still home to around 60 monks. The art inside and around the monastery is absolutely breathtaking, and even in the rain we enjoyed touring the beautiful area.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This massive church is the crown jewel of Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia. The cathedral was erected in honor of the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878 that liberated Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. The artwork, mosaics, and golden features of this church are absolutely beautiful, and not something to miss!
Tsarevets Fortess
The Tsarevets Fortess is located in the beautiful city of Veliko Tărnovo. The fortress used to mark the capitol of Bulgaria and house Bulgarian royalty before Ottoman takeover in 1393. The fall of this fortress marked the fall of the Bulgarian Empire. At the highest point of the fortress is a beautiful church that features modern frescos that I have not seen in any other part of Bulgaria.
Pleven Panorama
The Pleven Panorama is where I learned the most about Bulgarian history, and finally understood the tension that exists between Bulgarians and their Turkish neighbors. The Pleven Panorama is an elevated art display that depicts one of the major wars in the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule. Interestingly, the battle at this location was largely between the Russians and the Turks. Overwhelming Russian support in this battle explains why Bulgarians often think fondly of their Russian neighbors, which is an interesting contrast to the current tensions between America and Russia.
Shipka
The final battle place in the Russo-Turkish war. This monument honors the soldiers that lost their lives in a battle where the Russians were largely outnumbered, but had uphill advantage and used sticks, rocks, and bodies to secure Shipka and Bulgarian independence. The view is beautiful, and as my Bulgarian guide said, “it is the most Bulgarian place in Bulgaria.”
Budluzhda Monument
This dilapidated building was once a monument to celebrate communism in Bulgaria, but is no longer open to the public because it is considered dangerous. We tried to break in to see the mosaics and graffiti inside the building, but a policeman stationed at the monument prevented us from doing so. Maybe next time!
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