Troyan Monastery

About

Built in the 16th century, the monastery was attacked and mostly destroyed during the Turkish invasion, not being rebuilt until 1835. While its revivalist architecture looks several centuries old, it’s the frescoes that steal the show. Painted by Zahari Zograf, the leading artist of the Bulgarian National Revival, the exterior fresco depicts Judgement Day, complete with fire-breathing monsters and demons. Inside, visitors will find more frescoes, depicting saints and scenes of the Last Judgement, as well as the miracle-working icon of the “Holy Virgin Troerouchitsa”. Along with the masterful paintings, the church is renowned for its wooden altar and iconostasis - both hand-carved in the mid-19th century.