Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo
Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo
4.5
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4.5
119 reviews
Excellent
60
Very good
42
Average
14
Poor
3
Terrible
0
John A Carter
Lower Sackville, Canada5,220 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
I didn’t do a trail, but I did climb up to the churches built into the walls of rock. I also went into the new church, which is currently being built below in the courtyard. I found both to be extremely beautiful and it’s something interesting to see in the area. The cost was four Bulgarian lira to get in.
Written 26 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AdventurePhiles
Dallas, TX810 contributions
June 2018 • Couples
This is a gorgeously frescoed church of the life of Christ, painted on the walls of a rock cave. One cannot but delight in the age and the skill of the paintings and marvel at the fact that they are still there, in all of their splendor, for us to view. There are two ways up to the cave. One is an easy, gradual walk of about five minutes to a viewpoint and then a short walk along the ridge to the church cave. The other is directly up some stairs to the cave, maybe a two minute climb. I saw a few comments about the difficulty of reaching the top, but that can only be from people who have never climbed five flights of stairs. It truly is not difficult. But, it is not handicapped accessible.
Written 21 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caro397
Berlin, Germany320 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
If you are in Russe, going to the see the UNESCO heritage site is a much, even being half and hour out of town.
There is a good trail, but make sure you have good walking shoes and are sure on your feet as it is a steep hill to get up there - but not too long and a easy to follow path. Not a bad view from the top.
The murals inside the monastery are well preserved and are well worth the visit.
There is a good trail, but make sure you have good walking shoes and are sure on your feet as it is a steep hill to get up there - but not too long and a easy to follow path. Not a bad view from the top.
The murals inside the monastery are well preserved and are well worth the visit.
Written 25 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
c0l88
Heswall, UK168 contributions
Sept 2019
The journey to the church is difficult in parts and in some ways more difficult coming down but it is worth it. You need good footwear and a dry day. Some great views from the top. Use the toilet facilities at the start before setting off.
Written 30 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ramutza
Bucharest, Romania601 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Loved this site, much more than Basarbavo. The rock church is small and it's just one (at Basarbavo there are several churches), but the views are better. The site is situated in a beautiful natural area with lots of panoramic views. The climb up is a bit rough, but not long. There are 2 options: a forest trail and stairs. Interesting old paintings in the cave-church. Big parking. Gift shop at the base with (paid) toilet and refreshments for sale. Not suited for people with mobility issues. No need for head cover or modest clothes.
Written 17 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lubomir S
Varna, Bulgaria592 contributions
May 2017 • Family
This cave monastery dates from the 13th century, preserved in the heart of Mother Nature with its entire beauty. The way to it is spectacular as well, one should not take the stairs, but walk on the asphalt about 100 meters and then take the ancient path with breath - taking panoramic view. The unique feature of this place is that it still has the original wall paintings from 1000 years ago. I loved it!!!
Written 18 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angel H
Sofia, Bulgaria72 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Situated in the beautiful surroundings of the Rusenski Lom National park the church is located high above the parking. There is plenty of room for at least 50 cars so don't worry about not being able to park. Next to the parking there are only a few tables offering souvenirs so there is really no refreshments offered. The church is reached by a steep flight of stairs BUT there is a pleasant path going there as well. It is much less steep and accessible and offers a nice panoramic view along the way. The church itself is covered in mural paintings preserved since the 14th century. The church is small, no more than 15 square metres. The entrance is 4lv. which is quite cheap. There is a person who can explain a lot about it all and put it in historical perspective.
Written 6 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Visator
Bucharest31 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
I visited twice the beautiful Lom River Valley (Rusenski Lom), 20 minutes by car from the city of Rousse and the Danube River, in Northeast Bulgaria: a few years ago in November and this year in mid March. Both wonderful experiences, with nature in the specific colours of the season.
The asphalted road is good. The Valley is like a canyon with high rocks, caves and forests on both sides of the road, a protected Natural Park with rare species of Orchid and lot of birds. In this spectacular landscapes you can visit the 13th-14th century old rock-hawn churches with original paintings on the inside stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument.
Here there was a monastery of cave and rock-hawn chapels and churches with monks living in isolation between the early 13th century and the 17th century. The main visitable painted church you can reach by going up on a reasonable, narrow path and coming down on steps, both with solid metal handrails. The paintings in vivid colours with biblical scenes and the view over the valley are estonishing. A guide sells the tickets and offers explanations.
Near-by in the same area you can visit St. Dimitri Basarbovski Monastery with rock-hawn chapels (10 km) and the ancient and medieval city of Cherven (13 km), situated on a high plateau with impressive high precinct walls and towers, ruins of palace, churches and and houses. You can visit all these in a couple of hours. The price of the tickets is very reasonable.
The asphalted road is good. The Valley is like a canyon with high rocks, caves and forests on both sides of the road, a protected Natural Park with rare species of Orchid and lot of birds. In this spectacular landscapes you can visit the 13th-14th century old rock-hawn churches with original paintings on the inside stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument.
Here there was a monastery of cave and rock-hawn chapels and churches with monks living in isolation between the early 13th century and the 17th century. The main visitable painted church you can reach by going up on a reasonable, narrow path and coming down on steps, both with solid metal handrails. The paintings in vivid colours with biblical scenes and the view over the valley are estonishing. A guide sells the tickets and offers explanations.
Near-by in the same area you can visit St. Dimitri Basarbovski Monastery with rock-hawn chapels (10 km) and the ancient and medieval city of Cherven (13 km), situated on a high plateau with impressive high precinct walls and towers, ruins of palace, churches and and houses. You can visit all these in a couple of hours. The price of the tickets is very reasonable.
Written 30 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ReeReeB
Los Angeles, CA238 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
If in the area this is worth the visit. It's off the beaten path and may be best to visit with a tour group or guide. The church sits high upon a hill. Be sure to wear appropriate walking shoes as you have to climb stairs to get to the top. The rooms are small but the paintings are amazing. There is someone on hand to explain each of the frescoes. View from the church is beautiful. There are toilets and a small gift/refreshment stand near the car park.
Written 26 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KLMircea
Oradea, Romania11 contributions
Nov 2012 • Friends
In November 2012, I and my friends decided to visit another UNESCO site as I am obsessed with those places. Not far from Bucharest, only 20 km from Rousse in Bulgaria, is a group of monolithic churches, chapels and monasteries hewn out of solid rock: Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo. The rocks are on the canyon created there by the Rusenski Lom River and the view is magnificent. You have to have good legs but do not worry if you go with an elder one because if you take some time it will be a journey to remember. Do not be disappointed if after many stairs in the rock you will visit only one or two small rooms. That is why I recommend you to read before you go there so you will understand why this place is amazing and why it is a UNESCO site from 1979, actually it is on the list from the beginnings. The churches and all were built in the 12th-14th century and the murals were painted by artists belonging to the Tarnovo School in Palaeologues style, with canons that are different from the Byzantine iconography. In the time of the Second Bulgarian State (1187-1396) were built hundreds of cells, chapels and churches but because of the conquest by the Ottoman Empire many were destroyed and only a set of five monuments survived in that extraordinary natural environment.
Written 23 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the parking lot how much time should we allow to visit the site?
Written 17 June 2023
Are there railings on walkways and stairs
Written 20 October 2020
Is it possible to take pictures without flash inside the churches?
Written 4 August 2020
How much is the entry fee?
Written 13 September 2019
Entrance fees: for students and students - BGN 2.00, for individual visitors - BGN 5.00, for organized groups (over 5 people) - BGN 4.00, conversation in Bulgarian - BGN 10.00
Written 17 September 2019
We visited last month and due to a corrupted memory card, I lost all my photos of the inside of the rock monastery at Ivanovo. I would so appreciate it if anyone could send me a couple of JPEG interior shots please.
Thank you so much.
Written 12 July 2015
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