Arbanassi Monastery

St. Nikola Monastery in the town of Arbanassi was built in 12th century during the reign of the Assens Dynasty, the first dynasty of the Second Bulgarian State. The Monastery is located in a small dale at the south-western part of Arbanassi. It has suffered numerous historical events and as a result was robbed and burnt down many times. In 1393, Bulgaria was already divided into tree parts, one of which the Turnovo Kingdom with capital Turnovo. Thus, located very closely to the capital city, the Monastery was destroyed by the Ottoman hordes which put an end to the Turnovo Kingdom in 1393. It was restored in 1630 and the Church and some buildings with monastic cells were rebuilt with funds provided by a donor, the Boyar Atanassiy, a rich Arbanassi merchant who took part in a plot to dethrone the Sultan and was killed in a battle near Soushitsa (Karlovo today). The monastery was burnt down at least three more times: in 1717, 1729, and 1738. This time it was rebuilt by the local population two years later. A new more major restoration began in 1838 on the initiative of the energetic Father Zotik Preobrazhenski with funds collected from the population of Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Lyaskovets, Arbanassi and the surrounding villages.

The monastery in Arbanassi has a single aisle, a single apse, a high dome and a Chapel of St. Elijah which was built in 1716. After the Liberation from Ottoman yoke in 1878 the monastery underwent more repairs: the mural paintings in the men's and the women's sections were removed and new ones painted over them. In addition, many icons were given as a present from Russian officers. Currently, the monastery in Arbanassi keeps one of the few preserved Royal apartments in Bulgaria most of which were destroyed and robbed during the Communism. There original belongings of the Royal family are kept and shown as attractions.

Open for visitors every day from 7am to 7pm and with available overnight accommodation, the St. Nikola Monastery in Arbanassi is among the top tourist attractions in Bulgaria.