Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 All Rights Reserved

Basarbovo rock monastery – a veritable gem in the valley of Rusenski Lom

Photo: library

The Basarbovo rock monastery, named after St. Dimitar Basarbovski, is located among the cliffs of the river Rusenski Lom near the village of Basarbovo. It is now the only functioning monastery in Bulgaria, hewn out into rocks. It has survived through the ages, along with the other rock monasteries in the vicinity, near Ivanovo village. They too are perched on the rocks surrounding the river.

The beginnings of the Basarbovo rock cloister go back to the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom – 7th-9th century, but it is made mention of for the first time in an Ottoman tax register in 1431. Its most famous inhabitant is saint Dimitar Besarabovski from Basarbovo village, born in 1685.

In our day the monastery attracts many tourists. The path leading to it cuts across a beautiful garden, ending at a well that was dug by Saint Dimitar himself. The locals believe that the waters of the well are healing.

Find out more about Basarbovo monastery here. 

Editing by Veneta Nikolova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The motives behind the Party House arson remain shrouded in mystery to this day

Today marks 35 years since since one of the most emblematic events  in Bulgaria’s post-communist history — the arson of the former Communist Party House. The causes behind the incident remain shrouded in mystery to this day. The criminal case..

published on 8/26/25 6:50 AM

The unique spectacle "Sound and Light" in Veliko Tarnovo - for the first time with live music

The unique audio-visual show "Sound and Light" in the Balkans, and in Europe, which recreates important moments from Bulgarian history against the backdrop of the centuries-old remains of heroic eras in the old capital Veliko Tarnovo, is celebrating..

published on 8/17/25 1:05 PM

The essence of the Transfiguration of the Lord is in spiritual transformation

On August 6, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates one of the twelve great feasts of the Lord – the Transfiguration of the Lord. It is connected with one of the most important evangelical events – the appearance of Jesus Christ in..

published on 8/6/25 6:15 AM