Season 2, Episode 37 - Rock Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (Bulgaria)

In this episode of Global Treasures, we cover Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, located in Bulgaria. This world heritage site consists of a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, and monasteries. Join us as we discuss the history and travel tips for those who plan on visiting.

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Episode Transcript

Abigail (00:00):
Imagine a place that tells a story spanning centuries where
culture and nature intertwine tocreate something truly extraordinary.
That's the beauty of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail, and this is Global Treasures,the podcast that covers the history,

(00:22):
travel tips, and legends surroundingone of the 1,223 World Heritage sites
each episode.
These places have been identified ashaving universal, cultural or natural
significance that is so exceptionalthat it transcends national boundaries.
And is of importance topresent and future generations.

(00:44):
Welcome to season two, wherewe'll explore the 45 sites that
UNESCO added in 1979 together.
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
We appreciate all of your support, and youcan continue to support us by subscribing
at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean.

(01:07):
You can also follow uson TikTok or on Facebook.
Please share the show with otherswho are passionate about immersing
themselves in the rich history ofthese sites or who love to travel.
We also appreciate it whenyou leave us a review.
Located high above the banks of theRusenski Lom River, near the village of

(01:29):
Ivanovo in Northern Bulgaria stands atruly extraordinary monastic complex.
Unlike any other in the country, theRock Hewn Churches of Ivanovo are
a stunning collection of monolithicchurches, chapels, and monasteries
carved into the cliffs over a hundredfeet above the river, located within

(01:54):
the Rusenski Lom Nature Park, just12 miles south of the city of Rousse,
The complex is renowned for itsspectacular medieval frescoes that have
remarkably withstood the test of time.
These caves first became a spiritualsanctuary over 800 years ago.

(02:14):
In the 1220s, the future patriarchof Bulgaria, Joachim, the first
founded a monastic community there.
Now a monastic community is whena group of nuns, or in this case,
monks live together and oftenfollow a very strict set of rules.
For example, taking vows ofpoverty and devoting their lives

(02:38):
to a specific religion or faith.
These communities have been anintegral part of the conservation of
artistic heritage throughout the world,especially in the medieval period.
Over the following centuries,
the monks would carve out a network ofcells, chapels and churches, directly

(02:58):
from, and into the limestone rock.
At the peak of its activity, thecomplex possessed around 40 churches and
approximately 300 other monastic premises.
Although many of these no longer remain.
What truly sets the Ivonavochurches apart are the 13th and

(03:19):
14th century frescoes preservedin five of the rock hewn churches.
These vivid murals are celebrated asmasterpieces of Bulgarian medieval
art, and some are the finest examplesof Palaeologan artistic style, which
often features religious icons.

(03:39):
Among the key structures within thecomplex are the Saint Archangel Michael
Chapel, also known as the Buried Church,the Baptistry, the Saint Theodore Church.
Also known as the "demolished church".
And then you have the main churchwhose 14th century frescoes are

(04:00):
considered the crown jewel of the site.
What is so striking is that even afterhundreds of years, the red, yellow,
and blue hues are still vibrant.
Throughout the centuries, the complexalso preserved many ancient inscriptions.
By the monk Ivo Gramatik,dated between 1308 to 1309.

(04:26):
The Rock-hewn churches enjoyed thepatronage of rulers from the second
Bulgarian empire, including IvonAlexander, whose portraits still aor
the walls of some of the churches.
Nobles from the former capital ofTarnovo and the nearby medieval town of
Cherven also supported the monastery.

(04:48):
This reflected the essentialties between the complex and the
political and cultural centers ofthe 13th and 14th century Bulgaria.
In the 14th century, Ivanovo becamean important center of hesychasm, a
mystical tradition of silent contemplativeprayer within Eastern Orthodoxy.

(05:13):
Though the monastery complex continued toexist into the early centuries of Ottoman
Rule, it gradually fell into decline.
Recognized for its unique spiritual,artistic, and historical value,
the Rock Hewn churches were inscribed onthe UNESCO World Heritage Site list in

(05:34):
1979, securing their place as a treasuredlegacy of Bulgaria's Medieval heritage.
Many measures have been taken topreserve this remarkable place,
including the cleaning of the murals.
There was a notable rock collapse inthe early 20th century, which was feared

(05:56):
to have caused irreparable damage.
Thankfully, the ceiling murals fromthe buried church were rescued and
able to be moved successfully toanother location for safekeeping.
Incredible work has also beendone over the years to both
strengthen and waterproof the rockformation, which is no small feat.

(06:19):
Now, if you wanna visit thisremarkable place, I'll cover some
essential information, logistics,and tips for planning your trip.
If you're flying in from another country,you'll want to fly into Plovdiv airport
and take a bus to Veliko Tarnovo.
You can also fly into SofiaAirport and use Sofia as your hub.

(06:43):
But the journey to the Rock Hewnchurches is going to be much longer.
Prior to visiting the site, you'llwanna do some research and decide
if you want to take a self-guidedtour or one lead by a tour company.
If you choose to do a guided tour,they typically arrange transportation.
Check out our show notes for linksand tools to help plan your trip.

(07:07):
Otherwise, you may want to rent a car.
The self-guided tours typically come withaudio guides in English, Russian, and or
Bulgarian, which is the official language.
The self-guided tour, of course, isgoing to be your most inexpensive option.
If you're planning your trip duringthe summer, know that it can get

(07:28):
quite hot midday, it can get ashot as 85 degrees Fahrenheit,
so you may want to aimto go earlier in the day.

Side note as well (07:37):
be forewarned that much of the signage is in Bulgarian only
within the park and by the churches.
So have a translation app or a bookready to go just in case you need it.
While visiting, I highly recommend takingthe time to hike through the Nature park
with its gorgeous wetlands and caves.

(07:59):
This is also a popularspot for photographers, of
course, and rafting as well.
As I mentioned before, Veliko Tarnovois a great place to stay for a few
nights while visiting this site.
It's a city known for itsunique architecture, historical
landmarks, and museums.
So if you love all of the above,you'll find plenty to do here.

(08:23):
There are also plenty of hotels, bed andbreakfast and home stay options available.
Of course, experiencing thecuisine is essential for getting
the full travel experience.
There are so many unique and memorabledishes I could recommend, but File Elena
is a dried, cured meat that is namedafter the city in Northern Bulgaria.

(08:49):
If you're familiar with prosciutto,it's similar in the sense it's often
served thinly sliced and very salty.
It's an appetizer that is frequentlyserved with wine or beer and is definitely
worth going out of your way for.
Whether you explore the entire country,or come to Bulgaria specifically

(09:10):
to visit this remarkable site, theRock Hewn Churches of Ivanovo live
on continuing to showcase Bulgarianmedieval art spiritual beliefs,
and the practices of the time.
Thank you again for listeningto the Global Treasures Podcast.
Join us for our next episodewhere we'll cover Sagarmatha

(09:34):
National Park located in Nepal.
Come learn about the history andtravel tips for visiting these stunning
glaciers and incredible mountain ranges,including the infamous Mount Everest,
the highest peak in the entire world.
Until then, keep exploring, keepwondering, and keep treasuring

(09:58):
the remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.