Rozhen - Bulgaria

The following day, after an early breakfast, we headed to the Rozhen Monastery on foot.  On the way, we went past a few stalls where women were selling all sorts of locally-made products; from hand-painted gourds to pickled vegetables, herbs and spices, home-made jams and honey.



Hand-painted Gourds



Home-made Treats

We arrived at the monastery after a refreshing stop at a local water fountain.  There again we were greeted by stall vendors, this time selling religious icons, books and candles.  Some refreshments and snacks were also available.

Icons for sale at the Monastery

 An old fountain by the road on the way to Rozhen Monastery...

The fountain on the way to the Monastery

The Rozhen Monastery, also called Birth of the Virgin Mary Monastery is situated five kilometres from Melnik.  It has a vine-covered courtyard that is 300 years old.  It is a popular destination for Bulgarian and tourists alike.  As a centre of the ecclesiastic life in the region, it is one of the largest Orthodox monastery and one of the few medieval Bulgarian monasteries well preserved until today.


The 330 year old Vine that covers the open area of the courtyard.

Built in 1217, the Monastery was devastated by fire in 1662, destroying the library and severely damaging most buildings.  The reconstruction began in 1715 and was fully finished in 1732.  The monastery reached its apogée in the 19th century, when it was the regional spiritual centre of Orthodox Christianity.  In the middle of 19th century, the Monastery became a shelter for revolutionary activists from the region.

The Monastery Courtyard

The Monastery owes its fame above all to its unique wood carvings, incredible frescoes, mural paintings and its icons.   The monastery is also famous for its stained glass (the oldest of its type preserved.  Truly a place worth visiting for its beauty and serenity.

The Monastery Wall Frescoes

We returned to Melnik for a lunch of Chicken soup – made with shredded chicken and carrot slices in a thick broth and a “Mishmash" (Scrambled eggs) cooked with capsicums, onion and tomato.  The only sensible thing to do after such a delicious lunch was to head straight back to the hotel for a cool shower and a well-earned siesta while waiting for the heat to subside.

Next on the agenda was a wine-tasting session in a cave dug out of the flank of a hill in Melnik.  The cave is 260 years old and has been in the same family for 120 years.  It was nationalised during the Russian rule and given back to its owners following the democratisation of the country.  The current owner was very hospitable and had amazing stories to tell while we tried his vintages.



The wine tasting session in the Cave



The Oak Wine Barrels

As the sun went down, we began to look for a restaurant for the evening.  We followed a friend’s recommendation and arrived in a delightful place with a large open veranda that let you watch the people going up and down the street from your table.

Our restaurant for the evening

We ordered a real feast of fresh salads and the traditional Rakia.  Assorted grilled meats and ox tongue sliced and pan-fried in batter accompanied by some flat bread “Purlenka” followed the salads – very tasty.  Only one problem; too much to eat and no room for dessert.

Tray of assorted salads



Salad and Fetta Cheese Cubes coated with an assortment of herbs



Assorted Grilled Meats

Pan-Fried Ox Tongue



Flat Bread - Purlenka

Later that evening, after a leisurely walk to help us digest all this lovely food, we returned to the hotel for a well-earned rest after a very interesting and most pleasant day.