Photos Jacqui O'Gara - copyright
We had a fantastic day visiting The Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo a UNESCO-protected landmark, situated on the territory of Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Then a trip to Rousse for lunch followed by a shopping trip, A big thank you to our dear friends and neighbours, who were the perfect hosts and who's company we enjoyed very much - thank you for a wonderful day - Diane, Mincho and Gabriella, Cvetana and Mincho - Yes
The beautiful river terraces, the high vertical rocks, the caves, the rock formations, the great biological diversity, and the historical monuments turn the park into a magnificent place of interest.
Bulgaria - official tourism guide
This is where the first hermits had dug out their cells and churches during the 12th century. The 14th-century murals testify to the exceptional skill of the artists belonging to the Tarnovo School of painting. UNESCO
A big thank you to Gabriella for the use of the following stunning photos
"The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo (Bulgarian: Ивановски скални църкви, Ivanovski skalni tsarkvi) are a group of monolithic churches, chapels and monasteries hewn out of solid rock and completely different from other monastery complexes in Bulgaria, located near the village of Ivanovo, 20 km south of Rousse, on the high rocky banks of the Rusenski Lom, 32 m above the river. The complex is noted for its beautiful and well-preserved medieval frescoes.
Ivanovo rocks near the church complex
The caves in the region had been inhabited by monks from the 1220s, when it was founded by the future Patriarch of Bulgaria Joachim, to the 17th century, where they hewed cells, churches and chapels out of solid rock. At the peak of the monastery complex, the number of churches was about 40, while the other premises were around 300, most of which are not preserved today.
Second Bulgarian Empire rulers such as Ivan Alexander and Ivan Asen II frequently made donations to the complex, as evidenced by donor portraits in some of the churches. Other patrons included nobles from the capital Tarnovo and nearest big medieval town Cherven, with which the monastery complex had strong ties in the 13-th and 14-th century. It was a centre of hesychasm in the Bulgarian lands in the 14th century and continued to exist in the early centuries of the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, but gradually decayed.
The monastery complex owes much of its fame to 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, preserved in 5 of the churches, which are thought of as wonderful examples of Bulgarian mediaeval art. The rock premises used by the monks include the St Archangel Michael Chapel ("The Buried Church"), the Baptistery, the Gospodev Dol Chapel, the St Theodore Church ("The Demolished Church") and the main Church, with the 14th-century murals in the latter one being arguably the most famous of all in Ivanovo and noted as some of the most representative examples of Palaeologan art. Many century-old inscriptions have also been preserved in the monastical premises, including the famous indented inscription of the monk Ivo Gramatik from 1308–1309.
The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979." .wikipedia
We had a fantastic day visiting The Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo a UNESCO-protected landmark, situated on the territory of Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Then a trip to Rousse for lunch followed by a shopping trip, A big thank you to our dear friends and neighbours, who were the perfect hosts and who's company we enjoyed very much - thank you for a wonderful day - Diane, Mincho and Gabriella, Cvetana and Mincho - Yes
The beautiful river terraces, the high vertical rocks, the caves, the rock formations, the great biological diversity, and the historical monuments turn the park into a magnificent place of interest.
Bulgaria - official tourism guide
the park is stunning and the rock art is amazing, here are some of the photos from the trip
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| In the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells developed in the vicinity of the village of Ivanovo. |
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| Steps leading up to the church |
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| Entrance to the cave/church of the Holy Virgin |
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| Entrance to the Holy Virgin church |
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| The Holy Virgin church |
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| Holy paintings in the rock hewn churches of Ivanovo The 14th-century murals |
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| when Judas betrayed Jesus 14th-century mural |
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| Judas trying to return the 30 pieces of silver |
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| Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO -14th-century murals artist from the Tarnovo School of painting. |
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| Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO |
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| Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO -14th-century murals artist from the Tarnovo School of painting |
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| Holy Paintings in the Caves: Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO |
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| Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO -14th-century murals artist from the Tarnovo School of painting |
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| The last supper - 14th century Tarnovo mural |
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| visitors to the Church of the Holy Virgin admiring the 14th century murals |
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| Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO -14th-century murals artist from the Tarnovo School of painting |
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| when Jesus's body was taken down from the cross - 14th century Tarnovo mural |
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| Tour Guide - Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO -14th-century murals artist from the Tarnovo School of painting |
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| A room with a view - Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO |
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| Rock hewn churches of Ivanovo - UNESCO -14th-century murals artist from the Tarnovo School of painting |
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| Holy paintings in the rock hewn churches of Ivanovo The 14th-century murals |
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| our Guides and Hosts |
Rusenski Lom Natural Park
"flora numbers 902 species of higher plants. 13 species of Orchid family are fixed in the Park.
Birds amount to a total of 192 species, 174 of them under protection – this is the reason why the Lom river valley has been announced to be a significant ornithological spot; especially interesting for scientists are the rock dwelling species: Egyptian vulture, Black stork, Ruddy shelduck, White tailed Buteo, and owls.
Along the valley 70 out of totally 90 species of Bulgaria’s mammals can be found; 26 of them are various species of bats. The high percentage of rare and protected species of mammals is due to the diversity of living conditions and habitats and proves the exclusive conservational significance of the Park for their preservation" - Danube Parks
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
A big thank you to Gabriella for the use of the following stunning photos
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
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| Rusenski Lom Nature Park |
Ivanovo rocks near the church complex
The caves in the region had been inhabited by monks from the 1220s, when it was founded by the future Patriarch of Bulgaria Joachim, to the 17th century, where they hewed cells, churches and chapels out of solid rock. At the peak of the monastery complex, the number of churches was about 40, while the other premises were around 300, most of which are not preserved today.
Second Bulgarian Empire rulers such as Ivan Alexander and Ivan Asen II frequently made donations to the complex, as evidenced by donor portraits in some of the churches. Other patrons included nobles from the capital Tarnovo and nearest big medieval town Cherven, with which the monastery complex had strong ties in the 13-th and 14-th century. It was a centre of hesychasm in the Bulgarian lands in the 14th century and continued to exist in the early centuries of the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, but gradually decayed.
The monastery complex owes much of its fame to 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, preserved in 5 of the churches, which are thought of as wonderful examples of Bulgarian mediaeval art. The rock premises used by the monks include the St Archangel Michael Chapel ("The Buried Church"), the Baptistery, the Gospodev Dol Chapel, the St Theodore Church ("The Demolished Church") and the main Church, with the 14th-century murals in the latter one being arguably the most famous of all in Ivanovo and noted as some of the most representative examples of Palaeologan art. Many century-old inscriptions have also been preserved in the monastical premises, including the famous indented inscription of the monk Ivo Gramatik from 1308–1309.
The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979." .wikipedia
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