Aladzha Monastery

Aladzha Monastery (Bulgarian: Аладжа манастир) is a medieval Orthodox Christian cave monastery complex in northeastern Bulgaria, 17 km north of central Varna and 3 km west of Golden Sands beach resort, in a protected forest area adjacent to the Golden Sands Nature Park.

The monastery caves were hewn into a 25-m high vertical carst cliff near the upper edge of the Franga plateau on several levels. The complex also includes two small nearby catacombs.

Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, it was an active hesychast monastic community of the Second Bulgarian Empire since the 12th century and perhaps survived until the early 18th century. Nearby, remains of a 5th-century cave monastery have also been found.

As late as the early 20th century, the forested hills surrounding the monastery and known as Hachuka (Mount of the Cross) or Latin, were regarded by locals as sacred and inhabited by a mythical chthonic daemon treasure keeper, Imri Pop or Rim-Papa [1].

Today, the grotto is a popular tourist destination. Its present name appeared in the late Ottoman period; Шаблон:Lang (Turkish for motley) referred to its colourful murals, now almost destroyed. Thematic light shows are being staged in the summer.

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Sylvie Vasileva
17 July 2018
Very beautiful place! Must see destination. The info from the museum is short but very intriguing, catching ones attention to research more about the history of the place.
Marek Bieniek
9 July 2013
Although the story behind the place is long, 20 minutes is more than enough to see it all. Remains of its former beauty are located in 1 small cell. Nice place to relax and have a cold drink though.
Аня
1 March 2016
Монастырь Аладжа - очень удивительное место. Туда хочется возвращаться снова и снова! А какая там стоит тишина ! Может на секунду показаться, что ты оглох... Там хорошо в любое время года:)
Boyan Punchev
21 September 2014
Мястото е много интересно и в донякъде величествено. Въпреки това 30-40 минути да се разгледа стигат. Добре е първо да прочете историята преди да се разгледа иначе човек остава с грешна представа.
Ishak hanci
12 February 2014
Mangal keyfi cok guzel yer :)
Tea Nikolova
30 August 2015
Хубаво място, но ако не хванеш да работи музея няма да разбереш нищо за историята му.Липсват малко табели и извън него!
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Map
2.5km from E87, 9007 Varna, Bulgaria Get directions
Sat 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Sun 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tue 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wed 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM–Noon

Аладжа Манастир (Aladzha Rock Monastery) on Foursquare

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