Klisura Monastery

Location

The Klisura Monastery of “St. St.Cyril and Methodius” is situated 80 km. north of Sofia, at the foot of Todorini kukli peak(1785m.) in Western Stara planina mountain, not far away from the town of Berkovitsa, and the spa resort of Varshets. It is located 500 m above the sea level, in the picturesque mountain valley of Vreshtitsa river, Ravna livada and Bakite.It attracts with the marvelous nature around it – green glades, crystal brooks, old green forests, and with its interesting history. The monastery is called the spiritual pearl of Northwestern Bulgaria.

It has a statue of a monastery settlement.

HISTORY

 The Klisura Monastery was founded during the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, in 13 th century (1240). It was destroyed and restored several times during the Ottoman rule and was a center of literature and education. In 1862 it was burned down by the Berkovitsa Turkish ruler pasha Jusuf bei and the monks were killed. In 1869 the monastery was restored by its first founder Ilia Stojanov and archimandrite Antim Damianov. A completely new monastery complex was built. In 1891 the cloister was officially sanctified by the Vidin bishop.The Klisura Monastery is one of the big active monasteries in Bulgaria.

ARCHITECTURE AND CULTUARL VALUABLES

The monastery complex comprises a church, a chapel “St. Nikolai” (renovated in 1998), residential and farm buildings, a farm and a holly spring. On a platform in the middle of the yard is situated the magnificent monastery church. It is with a nave and 2 aisles, with 3 apses, and one dome on a cylinder with 8 walls. The church has an open air narthex at 2 sides of which there are 2 high bell towers. In 1937 it was painted by the well-known Bulgarian painters Gospodin Jeliazkov and professor George Bogdanov. The iconostasis is a masterpiece of Staicho Fandakov. The icons date back to 18 – 19 th century. Some of them are painted by anonymous masters and others – by the icon painter Nikola Obrazopisov.

In the vicinity is situated the holly spring. Its water comes from the Todorini kukli peak. The monastery is declared a monument of culture.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION

 The monastery complex includes 3 big residential buildings. The capacity is 80 beds and 2 apartments.

The restaurant of the monastery (50 seats) offers delicious dishes from the traditional Bulgarian cuisine, prepared from eco products. There you can have lots of fun. Outgoings in the mountain, horse riding, folklore concerts and others are being organized. Exhibitions of Easter eggs and bread and Berkovitsa pottery are represented. The traditional craft of carpet-making is demonstrated. The water of the holly spring is slightly mineralized, pure and with low level of radioactivity. It is good for prophylaxis.