Exciting day at Bachkovo Waterfall

About

We will spend the day walking around the beautiful nature of the Rhodope mountains. Our journey will take place in the Red Wall reserve - the biggest biosphere reserve in the region, which has diverse flora and fauna.

Highlights

• 30 km from Plovdiv

• See the second largest Monastery in Bulgaria

• Enjoy the beauty of the Bulgarian nature

• the Ossuary dating back to the 12th century

• Outdoor picnic

 Description

We will spend the day walking around the beautiful nature of the Rhodope mountains. Our journey will take place in the Red Wall reserve - the biggest biosphere reserve in the region, which has diverse flora and fauna.

Our first stop will be the Bachkovo Monastery “Assumption of the Holy Virgin” built in 1083. It is the second largest in Bulgaria and preserves the Miraculous icon of the Mother of God.

The path leading to the waterfall is next to the monastery and around 20 minutes we will be at the spot. However, prior to it, we will visit the Ossuary, one of a kind in the Eastern Orthodoxy. Still-preserved frescoes, dating back to the 12th century, can be seen here.

And, next is the waterfall itself. It is 15 meter in height and was formed out of a karst fault, with several of its water branches. We will stop for some photos here. Further along, a picturesque view of the Rhoodope mountains is revealed to us.

Alongside the path is the so-called ayazmo, which is a water source, near a sacred for the Christians place, for example a temple or a monastery. It is believed that the Icon fell at this place and water sprung after that.

About 2km to the east of the monastery is the Kluvia – the area where the Miraculous icon of Virgin Mary was found. The word kluvia has Greek origin and means cage. Which describes well the cave niche where the Icon was first discovered. According to the legend, the monks hid the Icon there, in order to keep it safe from the invading Ottoman empire.

Not far from it, is the small “St Archangels Chapel. Each year, on Easter Monday, there is a procession with the Icon from Bachkovo Monastery to the chapel, where a liturgy is held and the Icon “sleeps”for one night. On the next day, it is brought back to the monastery.

After this interesting walk we will have a picnic at one of the meadows along the path.

On our way back to Plovdiv, we can spend some time shopping at the food and craft stalls, where you can buy homemade jams or different handmaid products.