Bachkovo monastery

Bachkovo monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgaria, and second largest after Rilski Monastery. It is located in the picturesque Chaya (aka Chepelarska)  river valley, near village of Bachkovo, 29 km south of Plovdiv.
The monastery was built in 1803 and is chiefly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate.

The most remarkable feature of Bachkovo monastery are the paintings that are seen everywhere - in the church and in ossuary, where the figure of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander is discernible, in the refectory (1601), in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin main church (1604), and in the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas church (I 840), which contain some of the first murals painted by the celebrated National Revival artist Zahari Zograph.