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The monastery was founded by Ivan Rilski (John of Rila) in the 10th century as a colony for hermits. It has been destroyed by fire, and abandoned by the monks. Its present place, 119 km south of Sofia, is the one in which it stood during the 14th century, when the protosebast Dragovol Hrelyo settled in the monastery as an independent ruler. In  1335 he built the five storey defence tower, topped by the Transfiguration Chapel,  fragments of whose murals can still be seen today. By the end of 14th century, the Rila Monastery had turned into a powerful feudal entity with many villages, lands and properties. Tsar Shishman alone, the last Bulgarian ruler, donated it over twenty villages in different districts. The monastery's unquestionable authority influenced the Turkish sultanates who confirmed the rights granted by the Bulgarian kings by special firmans. Irrespective of this, the Monastery was devastated around the mid-15th century. It started rising again after the relics of Ivan Rilski were brought from Veliko Turnovo here in 1469 (passing through the whole of Bulgaria as a nation-wide patriotic procession). The fate of the Monastery became the concern of the entire Bulgarian nation. A new centre was needed for the cultural life, which had declined or was transferred abroad. Many of the time's most outstanding men of letters gradually started gathering in the monasteries. The first links with Russian monasteries were established. A charter of Tzar Ivan the Terrible, kept today at the Monastery Museum, allowed the monks unlimited access to the Moscow Principality. World Cultural Heritage (UNESCO object) National tourist object. The biggest Bulgarian revival, spiritual and cultural centre 16,000 volume library including 134 manuscripts from 15th to 19th century. Exclusive mural paintings, woodcarving and icons, gold weave materials and embroidery.  A multitude of gold and silver church plates, collections of coins, weapons and jewellery.

Rila Monastery                                          30 km. before Rila Monastery                       Honey, family business since 1927y.

Trout fish, Restaurant Eleshnitsa    Lunch supplement: 6-8 Euro per person.