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Bachkovo · Bulgaria

Bachkovo Monastery

A major Orthodox monastery in the Rhodope foothills south of Plovdiv, with medieval origins, later churches and extensive wall painting.

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Bachkovo Monastery Eric T Gunther · CC BY-SA 3.0
Typical visit
1 hour 30 minutes
Setting
Indoor
Region
Plovdiv and Upper Thrace
Last checked
10 Aug 2026

Why visit

Bachkovo Monastery provides a long view of Orthodox history that complements Rila without simply repeating it. Its medieval foundation reflects cross-cultural connections within the Byzantine world, while later churches, frescoes and residential wings show centuries of continued use. The site’s location at the entrance to the Rhodopes also makes it an effective geographical bridge between Plovdiv’s urban archaeology and the mountain landscapes farther south.

What you will see

  • The monastery courtyard and principal church ensemble.
  • Historic frescoes in the ossuary and other buildings.
  • The wooded Rhodope foothill setting beside the Chepelare River.

History

Bachkovo Monastery was founded in 1083 by the Georgian military commander Gregory Pakourianos. Over later centuries it became an important Orthodox centre with Bulgarian, Georgian and Byzantine connections, surviving repeated periods of rebuilding.

Visitor tips

  1. 1

    Confirm the current public entrance, trailhead, parking point or visitor route shortly before travel.

About Plovdiv and Upper Thrace

Plovdiv’s layered urban archaeology meets Rhodope gateways, National Revival towns and sites associated with the April Uprising across the Upper Thracian plain and its margins.

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Combine it with

More to see around Bachkovo

Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv Plovdiv · Bulgaria A well-preserved Roman theatre built into the hillside of Plovdiv’s old town, still used as a performance venue. Old Plovdiv Architectural Reserve Plovdiv · Bulgaria The protected historic core of Plovdiv, where Revival-era houses, Roman remains, churches and cobbled streets occupy several of the city’s hills. Regional Ethnographic Museum Plovdiv Plovdiv · Bulgaria An ethnographic museum housed in the richly decorated Kuyumdzhioglu House, presenting traditional crafts, clothing, interiors and regional culture. Asen's Fortress Asenovgrad · Bulgaria A medieval fortress site on a rocky ridge above Asenovgrad, dominated by the surviving Church of the Holy Mother of God. Oborishte locality Panagyurishte · Bulgaria A wooded historic locality near Panagyurishte associated with the revolutionary assembly that prepared the April Uprising of 1876. Rayna Knyaginya House Museum Panagyurishte · Bulgaria The family house of Rayna Popgeorgieva, remembered for sewing and carrying the flag of the Panagyurishte revolutionaries during the April Uprising.