Ivanovo
Kazanluk
Plovdiv
Rila
Sofia
Veliko Tarnovo
Bulgaria
The Cave Churches of Ivanovo are located near Ruse, the Bulgarian city on the Danube Rive across from Giurgiu, Romania. The caves were inhabited by monks from around the 13th century to the 17th century CE. The frescoes on the cave walls date from the 13th and 14th centuries.
Opening from the cave to a man-made terrace
Rock formation on the hike up to the cave
Cave frescoe
Cave frescoe
Cave frescoe
Cave frescoe
Cave frescoe
Cave frescoe, the hanging of Judas
Crack in the ceiling, cracks are monitored for growth
Cave frescoe, crucifixion
Cave frescoe
Cave frescoe
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The Rose Valley is where about 70% of the world's rose oil is produced. It requires about 3,000 kg of rose petals to produce 1kg of rose oil. The retail price for Bulgarian rose oil in 2012 was $1,050 for 100 mL (about $300/oz). The Shipka Pass connects Gabrovo to Kazanluk. The Shipka Memorial on the top of Stoletov Peak honors those who died in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The Shipka Church of the Nativity is a Bulgarian Orthodox church built between 1885 and 1902. Its 12 ton bell was cast from cartridges that were collected after the Russo-Turkish war.
Looking over Dunavtsi and Korinka
The Shipka Memorial on top of Stoletov Peak
Looking toward Gabrovo, windmill farm on the horizon
Tombstone
Water wheel
Old bridge, house with rock roof
architecture
Old bridge
Monument
Another rock roof
Rose fields in Asen
Rose
Poppy
Fuzzy Plant
Picking Roses
Picking Roses
Picking Roses
Picking Roses
Plant Life
Plant Life
Dancing in the Rose Fields
Basket of Roses
Shipka Church of the Nativity, Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Shipka Church of the Nativity, Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Shipka Church of the Nativity, Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Shipka Church of the Nativity, Bulgarian Orthodox Church
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Plovdiv, also known as "The City of Seven Hills", dates back to 4,000 BCE. Originally Thracian, the city has been ruled by the Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. The city was named Philippopolis after being conquered by Philip II of Macedon. The present name dates back to the 11th Century CE. The Ancient Theatre of Plovidiv, still in use, was constructed around the 2nd Century CE during the rule of the Roman Emperor Thrajan.
Virgin Mary Church
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv, Hisar Kapia Gate
Around Old Town Plovdiv, Hisar Kapia Gate
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv, cobblestone streets
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv, hand made pottery
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Around Old Town Plovdiv
The Round East Tower, old Roman city walls
Around Old Town Plovdiv
Plovdiv from one of the ancient hill tops
Plovdiv from one of the ancient hill tops
Plovdiv from one of the ancient hill tops
Plovdiv from one of the ancient hill tops
Plovdiv from one of the ancient hill tops
Plovdiv from one of the ancient hill tops
Snails
Snail
Ancient Roman Theatre
Ancient Roman Theatre
Ancient Roman Theatre
Ancient Roman Theatre
Ancient Roman Theatre
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The Monastery of St. Ivan of Rila is located in the Rila Mountains at an elevation of 1,147 km (3,763 ft). Originally founded in the 10th Century, the monastery was rebuilt in the 14th Century. The only remaining structure from this original period is the Tower of Hrelja. The monastery was once again rebuilt after occupation by the Ottomans. The central building is dated, just under the dome, at 1870.
Entry gate ceiling
Main Monastery built 1870
Tower of Hrelja
Stream and structure outside the back entrance
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco of Archangel Michael
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco of St. Ivan of Rila
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
Rila Monastery Fresco
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The capital and largest city of Bulgaria was once a Thracian settlement called Serdica. For a time around the 4th Century BCE, the city was ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. The Church of St. George is a Roman rotunda from the 4th Century BCE. The Ottoman Empire conquered Sofia in 1382 and it remained part of Turkey until 1879 when the Russians liberated the city. Bulgaria was allied with Germany during World War II. The Bulgarian government was overthrown after invasion by the Soviets, and in 1946 the Republic of Bulgaria was formed.
Ivan Vazov National Theater
Ivan Vazov National Theater
Ivan Vazov National Theater
Ivan Vazov National Theater
Statue in the water fountain in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theater
Lower Part of the Tsar Liberator Monument honoring Russian Emperor Alexander II
Architecture around Sofia
The road to the Sveta Nedelya Orthodox Church
Sveta Nedelya Orthodox Church
St. Petka of the Saddlers Medieval Bulgarian Orthodox Church
St. Petka of the Saddlers Medieval Bulgarian Orthodox Church
St. Sofia seen over the roof of St. Petka of the Saddlers Medieval Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Synagogue of Sofia
Inside the Synagogue of Sofia
Inside the Synagogue of Sofia
Inside the Synagogue of Sofia
Area around the Synagogue of Sofia
Area around the Synagogue of Sofia
Area around the Synagogue of Sofia
The Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, also known as The Russian Church
Banya Bashi Mosque
The Bulgarian Presidency Building Entrance
St. George 4th Century Roman Rotunda
University of Sofia Rectorate
Around Sofia
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Tile mosaic at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Tile mosaic at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Door at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Door carving at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Door at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Along the street on the way to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Byzantine Church of St. Sofia
Door at the Byzantine Church of St. Sofia
The Medieval Boyana Church at the foot of Mt. Vitosha
The Medieval Boyana Church at the foot of Mt. Vitosha
Guardian of The Medieval Boyana Church at the foot of Mt. Vitosha
Traditional Bulgarian Entertainment and Dining
Traditional Bulgarian Entertainment and Dining
Traditional Bulgarian Entertainment and Dining
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Veliko Tarnovo lies along the Yantra River. Remains of the Royal Fortress still stand on Tsarevets Hill. The fortress dates to the 12th Century CE and the earliest artifacts of human settlement date to around 3,000 BCE. Nearby Arbanassi is home to numerous monasteries and churches spanning from the 15th to 18th Centuries CE.
Looking North, up the Yantra River from the Alexander Stamboliyski Bridge
The monument of the Asen Dynasty in Sveta Gora Park, surrounded by the river
The monument of the Asen Dynasty in Sveta Gora Park
The monument of the Asen Dynasty in Sveta Gora Park
The monument of the Asen Dynasty in Sveta Gora Park
A wedding in Sveta Gora Park
Young ladies in Sveta Gora Park looking at the city across the Yantra river
A young rock band playing Avenged Sevenfold and Guns N Roses in Sveta Gora Park
A young rock band playing Avenged Sevenfold and Guns N Roses in Sveta Gora Park
Tsarevets, the old fortress in the morning
Tsarevets
Tsarevets
Tsarevets
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God on the hilltop in Tsarevets
Guarding the gate to Tsarevets
The road and gate to Tsarevets
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God through the gate to Tsarevets
The royal palace ruins in Tsarevets
The royal palace ruins in Tsarevets
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God on the hilltop in Tsarevets
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God on the hilltop in Tsarevets
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God on the hilltop in Tsarevets
The front door of The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God
A veiw of Veliko Tarnovo from Tsarevets
Tsarevets at night
Tsarevets at night
Tsarevets at night
The Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno viewed from Tsarevets
The Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno viewed from Tsarevets
The Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno
The Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno
The Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno
A door of The Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno
Around Veliko Tarnovo
St. Dimitar of Thessaloniki Church, Boyars announced a rebellion against the Ottomans, 1185
Gates in Arbanasi
Traditionally dressed girls in Arbanasi
Traditionally dressed girls in Arbanasi
Arbanasi
Cricket in Arbanasi
Door in Arbanasi
Monastery near Veliko Tarnovo
Monastery near Veliko Tarnovo
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Select a tab above to view a slideshow of photographs from the area.
IVANOVO, close to Ruse, is a villiage in Bulgaria near a rock-hewn church complex. Photographs in this section are primarily of the paintings inside a cave that is part of the church complex.
KAZANLUK is a town in the province of Stara Zagora. Photographs in this section are from the Rose Festival, the Shipka Church, and sites along the road to Veliko Tarnovo.
PLOVDIV is the second largest city in Bulgaria - the first being Sofia - and contains an old town area with cobblestone streets that dates back to the Roman era. Most of the photographs in this section are from the old town area.
RILA is an area that contains a monastery founded by St. Ivan of Rila in the 10th centruy. All the images in this section are from the Rila Monatery.
SOFIA is the capital city of Bulgaria containing many interesting architectural elements, religious sites and monuments. Photgraphs in this section are of some of the various sites around Sofia.
VELIKO TARNOVO is a city in the northern part of Bulgaria built on the high banks surrounding a bend in the Yantra River. There is an old strategically placed fort in the city. Photographs in this section also include the surrounding area of Arbanasi.
All Images and Content Copyright John Baker 2014
Page Last Updated 1/2/2017