Explore Assen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery on a private tour from Plovdiv. Discover ancient history and stunning iconography in the Rhodope Mountains.
- Bachkovo Monastery - Inside the monastery, we will visit the main church of the Virgin Mary, built in 1604, where a valuable icon of the Virgin Mary from 1310 is kept. According to legend, this remarkable icon is wonder-working. Attached to the Virgin Mary church, we will see the Archangels Church, dating to the 12th century. The monastery refectory is another jewel in the complex, preserving colorful murals from 1643. Alongside the Doomsday fresco, we will witness images of saint-monks, ancient philosophers, and writers such as Socrates, Aristotle, Diogenes, and many more. The panoramic mural on the outside wall of the refectory represents a bird’s eye view of the monastery with all the surrounding buildings at the time of the painting – 1846.
- Асенова крепост - Nearby, we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Assen’s fortress – a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There, we will find an ancient church dating from the 13th century, painted with some authentic pieces of iconography, as well as the stone inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. The entry is 4 lv for adults and 2 lv for kids.
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Gratuities
From Plovdiv, we journey towards the Rhodope Mountains, passing through the charming town of Assenovgrad. Nearby, we will encounter the impressive ruins of King Ivan Assen’s fortress – a sagacious ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Here, we will discover an ancient church from the 13th century adorned with authentic iconography and a stone inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. Next, we venture deeper into the Rhodope Mountains to the scenic Bachkovo Monastery. This cloister, founded in 1083, is the second largest in Bulgaria and one of the most revered sites in Bulgarian history. We can make stops along the way if you wish. If you are the only one booked for that day, the tour will be exclusively for you. Please note that the maximum number of participants is 6.
- Travel time is included in the total duration
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.