Lopushanski Monastery of St. John the Baptist

Lopushanski monastery of St. John the Baptist is located in Chiprovtzi part of Stara Planina mountain, in the valley of river Dalgodelska Ogosta, southwest of the village of Georgi Damyanovo and north of the village of Melyane.

Before the current monastery there was another monastery at same place, which is thought to have been built during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and was completely destroyed after the Turkish invasion. In its present form the Lopushanski monastery is from the middle of XIX century when it was rebuilt by a decision of the inhabitants of nearby villages and Chiprovtsi monks. Main builder was Lilo Slavinski - a master from Slavinskata building school. Then were built the church, the housing block, the courtyard gate, the fence and courtyard fountain.

The monastery is impressive for its architecture and stone sculptures. The monastery Church of St. John the Baptist has a very beautiful altar made in the best traditions of the Samokov School. The icons were painted by the brothers Nikolai and Stanislav Dospevski.

Lopushanski monastery was declared a national monument.