The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bulgaria that has been a monastery and pilgrimage centre since the 10th century is Rila Monastery.
Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by the hermit Ivan of Rila, one of Bulgaria’s most revered saints. The monastery became a major centre of spiritual life, education, and literary activity. Its mountain setting in the Rila Mountains helped it retain an important role through periods of political change.
UNESCO inscribed Rila Monastery in 1983. The complex is especially known for its fortified appearance, arcaded courtyard, Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, murals, and wood-carved decoration. Much of the present architectural ensemble dates from the 19th century, after an earlier complex was damaged by fire.
Rila Monastery is sometimes mistaken for another Bulgarian monastery because Bulgaria has several important Orthodox monastic sites. Its combination of medieval origins, national cultural importance, and later architectural reconstruction makes it the country’s best-known monastic heritage property.