Etropole monastery "Holy trinity"

The Etropole monastery "Holy Trinity" (also called Varovitets because of the limestone used for the construction of the monastery church) is situated in the Stara Planina Mountain, in the foot of Cherni Vrakh summit (1070 m) ,2 km. south of Ribaritsa and 5 km. east of Etropole.

The monastery was founded in the Middle Ages (1158), but during the Turkish invasion was devastated and deserted for centuries. At the end of the XVI-th century it was restored, and gradually became the second most important cultural and educational center in the Bulgarian lands after the Rila Monastery. Here was the place where once was created the famous for these times Etropole calligraphic school.

The history of the monastery is related to the National struggles in the XIX century for the Liberation of Bulgaria. Often it had been a refuge of Bulgarian revolutionaries, including the Apostle of freedom - Vasil Levski.