Monasteries in Bulgaria - discover 7000 year old ancient history Most of the monasteries in Bulgaria are based in Veliko Tarnovo, so your best bet is to travel there. Plus, its a beautiful and charming old town that is definately worth a visit.
Preobrazhenski Monastery (also known as The Transfuration Monestry)
It is the 4th largest of all the monasteries in Bulgaria and the biggest in Veliko Tarnovo.It lies near the village of Samovodene, 7 kilometres north of Veliko Tarnovo, in central northern Bulgaria. It is one of the five stauropegic monasteries in Bulgaria, and of the Orthodox Church.After the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria, the monastery was plundered and burned several times by the Turks and eventually entirely destroyed. It was only reestablished in 1825 by father Zoticus of the Rila Monastery by means of donations. The monastery is open for visitors every day from 7am to 7pm.  The Holy Trinity Monastery This monastery lies 6 km to the north of Veliko Turnovo. There are caves in the cliffs there which were made into cells and chapels in the Middle Ages.According to certain data the Monastery of the Holy Trinity was founded in 1070 by Georgi, a churchwarden and his son, Kalin, but it is thought more probable that it was built by Patriarch Euthymius with the help of Tsar Ivan Shishman, hence its name of Patriarchal or Shishman's Monastery. For a time it was the centre of the Turnovo School of Literature, headed by Euthymius, probably also after he was elected Patriarch in 1375.The monastery is open for visitors every day from 7am to 7pm.
Kilifarevo Monastery
It is believed that intially, the Kilifarevo monastery was built between 1348 and 1350. Its founder is the renowned Bulgarian clergyman, Teodosii of Turnovo, who with the help of the then-ruler, Tsar Ivan Alexander, transformed the cloister into one of the most important centres of the Bulgarian education and literature of the Middle Ages. A Kilifarevo school of literature was established for a short period of time and in 1360, this was already teaching 460 students, the most famous of which was the future Bulgarian Patriarch, Evtimii of Turnovo.The monastery is easy to reach following the road to the south of Veliko Turnovo. Which crosses the Balkan mountain at the Haimboaz Pass.The town of Kilifarevo lies about 12km away from the monastery, while the road from the town to the monastery is signed. The monastery is open for visitors every day from 7am to 7pm.
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