Explore the hillside monasteries, dazzling lakes and charming towns of inland Bulgaria
Mountain magic: Forget the coast and its hordes of tourists - Bulgaria's interior is home to hillside monasteries, dazzling lakes and charming townsCharlie Kitcat's journey begins in Sofia, a 'joy' of a city which offers charm, beauty and culture in abundance He spends a night in a modest £18 a night room in Bulgaria's holiest place, Rila Monastery On the Seven Rila Lakes Trail he sees glacial lakes" sparkle like sapphires" and a "panorama of hills"
AdvertisementFirst light shines through the uncurtained window, then I hear a faint trickle of water and a chorus of birdsong.
My eyes open to see the only picture of Mother Mary next to my bed. And the bells begin to ring, echoing through the rocky, verdant landscape.
This is not Tuscany or Provence. Instead, I'm surrounded by soaring trees, brown bears and the highest peaks in Eastern Europe in Bulgaria's holiest place, Rila Monastery.
I open the door to my modest £18 a night bedroom to reveal black and white enclaves, narrow arches and circular domes topped with crosses.
< img id="i-fc9e16d96e368473" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/04/09/66181057-11597779-Charlie_Kitcat_stays_in_a_modest_18_a_night_room_in_Bulgaria_s_h-a-1_16728265jpg04"70height.4" width="962" alt="Charlie Kitcat stays in a modest £18 overnight room in Bulgaria's holiest place, Rila Monastery (above)" class="nothing" />Below me, in the cobbled courtyard, the monastery begins its daily routine. A bearded monk, dressed in midnight black, strolls toward the peach-colored church in the center. Decorated on the outside with luminous 19th-century frescoes, nothing is illuminated inside except the golden halos of shrouded holy figures on the walls.
Thousands of monks have resided at Rila Monastery since its founding in the early 900s. It was established by St Ivan of Rila, a hermit revered as a saint during his lifetime, before his cave surroundings be gradually transformed.
First light shines through the uncurtained window, then I hear a faint trickle of water and a chorus of birdsong.
My eyes open to see the only picture of Mother Mary next to my bed. And the bells begin to ring, echoing through the rocky, verdant landscape.
This is not Tuscany or Provence. Instead, I'm surrounded by soaring trees, brown bears and the highest peaks in Eastern Europe in Bulgaria's holiest place, Rila Monastery.
I open the door to my modest £18 a night bedroom to reveal black and white enclaves, narrow arches and circular domes topped with crosses.
< img id="i-fc9e16d96e368473" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/04/09/66181057-11597779-Charlie_Kitcat_stays_in_a_modest_18_a_night_room_in_Bulgaria_s_h-a-1_16728265jpg04"70height.4" width="962" alt="Charlie Kitcat stays in a modest £18 overnight room in Bulgaria's holiest place, Rila Monastery (above)" class="nothing" />Below me, in the cobbled courtyard, the monastery begins its daily routine. A bearded monk, dressed in midnight black, strolls toward the peach-colored church in the center. Decorated on the outside with luminous 19th-century frescoes, nothing is illuminated inside except the golden halos of shrouded holy figures on the walls.
Thousands of monks have resided at Rila Monastery since its founding in the early 900s. It was established by St Ivan of Rila, a hermit revered as a saint during his lifetime, before his cave surroundings be gradually transformed.
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