Klisura Monastery
In the western part of the Balkan Mountain, at the feet of the Todorini Kukli Peak, and near the town of Vurshets, the Klisura Monastery stands proudly showing its beauty and rich historical past. The Klisura Monastery named St Petka was originally built on an old road that connected Sofia to the village of Breznik. The monastery is easy to reach following the road to the town of Montana that crosses the Petrohan Pass in the Balkan Mountain. About 3km after one passes through the town of Burziya, one needs to take the road to the town of Vurshets. About 5km down this road one reaches to the offroad that leads to the main gates of the monastery.
The Klisura monastery dates back to the time of the Second Bulgarian State. It was initially built in 1240; however, during the five-century long Ottoman domination, it was destroyed several times. For instance, in 1862, on the very holiday of St St Cyril and Metodii, the cloister was burnt down and all of its monks and pilgrims were slaughtered by a Turkish pasha and his army. In 1869 the Klisura Monastery was rebuilt following a Renaissance design with the help of its first donor Archimandrite Antim Damyanov. The church itself, bearing the name St St Cyril and Metodii, was officially consecrated in 1891 by Vidin's metropolitan bishop.
The Klisura monastery dates back to the time of the Second Bulgarian State. It was initially built in 1240; however, during the five-century long Ottoman domination, it was destroyed several times. For instance, in 1862, on the very holiday of St St Cyril and Metodii, the cloister was burnt down and all of its monks and pilgrims were slaughtered by a Turkish pasha and his army. In 1869 the Klisura Monastery was rebuilt following a Renaissance design with the help of its first donor Archimandrite Antim Damyanov. The church itself, bearing the name St St Cyril and Metodii, was officially consecrated in 1891 by Vidin's metropolitan bishop.
Apart from the two churches, the monastic complex includes also 3 vast residential buildings, a wide farmyard and a kitchen, which surround the inner yard. The spring water coming from the Todorini Kukli Peak was found in the monastery’s territory and it is believed to have the ability to cure ill people. A Bulgarian religious ritual is people who visit the complex to wash their eyes three times with the spring water in order to be healthy during the year.
The Klisura monastery offers perfect conditions for a peaceful holiday. It holds out 80 beds and two apartments with all rooms having their own bathrooms. The restaurant of the monastery offers traditional Bulgarian cuisine cooked with products of the monastery’s farmyard. In addition to food and accommodation, the monastery’s staff also offers mountain hiking, horse riding, and folklore performances (including the baking of ritual bread).
The Klisura monastery offers perfect conditions for a peaceful holiday. It holds out 80 beds and two apartments with all rooms having their own bathrooms. The restaurant of the monastery offers traditional Bulgarian cuisine cooked with products of the monastery’s farmyard. In addition to food and accommodation, the monastery’s staff also offers mountain hiking, horse riding, and folklore performances (including the baking of ritual bread).
