Private trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Assen’s Fortress
Description
From Plovdiv we head towards the Rhodope Mountains passing through the pretty town of Assenovgrad. Nearby we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Assen’s fortress – a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There we are to find an ancient church dating from the 13th century painted with some authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone made inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. Next we go deeper in the Rhodope Mountains towards the picturesque Bachkovo monastery. The cloister is the second largest in Bulgaria, founded in 1083 and one of the most sacred places in the Bulgarian history. We can stop on the way if you wish. If you are the only one booked for that day, the tour is just for you. Please note that the maximum number of people who can join is 6
Tour Options
Itinerary
Inside the monastery we ll visit the main church of the Virgin Mary built in 1604 where a valuable icon of the Virgin Mary from 1310 is kept. According to the legend, this remarkable icon is wonder-working. Attached to the Virgin Mary church we ll see the Archangels Church dating to the 12th century. The monastery refectory is another jewel in the complex which has preserved colorful murals from 1643. Together with the Doomsday fresco, we ll witness the images of some saint-monks, ancient philosophers and writers as Socrates, Aristotle, Diogenes and many more. The panoramic mural on the outside wall of the refectory represents a bird s eye view of the monastery with all the surrounding buildings at the time of the painting – 1846.
Nearby we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Assen s fortress – a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There we are to find an ancient church dating from the 13th century painted with some authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone made inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. The entry is 4 lv for adults and 2 lv for the kids
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We need your exact address in Plovdiv city so that we know where to pick you up.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time is included in the total duration
Reviews(25)
It was a nice drive out of Plovdiv to visit an historic monastery and ruins of a fortress. The drive & sightseeing can be done in 2 to 3 hours max.
Great guild and a great time. The views were so beautiful and we had plenty of time to see it all. Definitely recommend!
Great trip - lovely sites, really beautiful. The monastery reminded me of Rila but more intimate. The fortress is steep but if you’re fit you’ll enjoy the church and surroundings. Lovely frescos and icons
Thank you! It was a pleasure for us to show you this beautiful sites around Plovdiv. Warm regards, Lyuben
3 hours tour, very practical to visit some of the most famous spots around Plovdiv; Lyuben is easygoing and a good driver!
Thank you very much! We are happy that we were able to show you a piece of the beauty of our motherland. Best regards, Lyuben
Lyuben was right on time, took us to the Monastery and Fortesss and was very helpful. It was a wonderful experience and I definitely recommend them if you are looking to take a day trip from Plovdiv. The Rhodope mountains are gorgeous.
Thank you very much for your kind review! We are glad that you enjoyed the monastery, the fortress and the beauty of the Rhodope Mountains. We are glad to hear that we made your trip enjoyable and memorable. We will be happy to see you again soon! Best regards, Lyuben
Me and my husband spent some wonderful hours of the day visiting Bachkovo Monastery and Asen's Fortress. The monastery felt so peaceful and full of history - I could've stayed there for hours. When we arrived at Asen's Fortress we admired the stunning views. Definitely make your way to the top — the stairs only look scary, but they’re really not that bad! Just a short drive om Plovdiv, but it felt like a different world. Our driver made the trip even more fascinating with his stories. It's totally worth it!
Dear Rosica, We are glad you had such a memorable day exploring Bachkovo Monastery and Asen Fortress. It is always a pleasure to share the history and beauty of these hidden gems. Thank you! Warm regards, Lyuben
Very enjoyable and relaxed visit to monastery and beautiful Asens fortress - Luben is a very friendly and lovely guide who made us feel very welcome in his car and provided some good information on the places we visited. Excellent value for money. Timing for the whole trip - from I. Time pick up to just the right amount to enjoy each location / was excellent
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 💛 We’re happy you enjoyed the tour and felt comfortable. It means a lot to hear the timing and value were just right. Hope to welcome you again on another trip! Warm regards, Lyuben
really good trip. my group and I had a lot of fun and we took amazing photos. plus, the driver was a great guy. tip: take photos with the Bulgarian flag at the fortress.
Thank you so much, Pavel for your kind words! We’re delighted you had a great time and enjoyed the photos. Hope to see you again soon! Best regards, Lyuben
Our guide was nice and polite but didn’t explain much about the fortress and church that we visited. We wish we would have learned some of the history of these amazing spots.
Dear Heather, I am happy that I was able to show you a little piece of the beauty of my motherland. We always tell the story of the places we visit, show you the hidden corners there and let you enjoy the place and feel its magical atmosphere. I am sorry the children were tired and that you needed to get back to the hotel a bit earlier than usual afterwards. It truly means a lot to me that you appreciate the care and heart I put into doing all this for you. Best regards, Lyuben
We had an amazing time! Luben is a fantastic guide!! So glad we got to meet him during our time in Bulgaria. Highly recommend!
Raenah, I am happy that through me you have experienced the magic of these sacred places. Warm regards, Lyuben
