In addition to its remarkable natural features, Stara Planina is also rich in cultural and historical valuable landmarks, which it has preserved during the centuries. One of its greatest wealth are the dozens monasteries nestled in its bosom.

During the hard years of foreign rule the Bulgarian people looked for more concealed and secret places to create in them their Christian sanctuaries and keep the National spirit alive. There is no other mountain in Bulgaria, which has housed so many Christian temples and which has given so much to its people in its struggles for survival and spiritual rise!

A small part of this spiritual wealth are: the Chiprovtsi Monastery, the Klisoura Monastery, Sedemte Prestola Monastery (the Seven Thrones), the Cherepish Monastery, the Sopot Monastery, the Kalofer Monastery, the Glozhen Monastery, the Shipka Monastery, the Sokol Monastery, the Dryanovo Monastery, the Kilifarevo Monastery, the Kapinovski Monastery and dozens of others.

The Troyan Monastery “Holy Virgin” is situated in the northern folds of the Troyan Balkan (Central Stara Planina), on the left bank of the Cherni Osam River. It is 10 km south-east of Troyan, between the villages of Oreshak and Cherni Osam. There is a marked tourist route from the town of Troyan to the Monastery (about 4 hours).

The Troyan Monastery is the third biggest in Bulgaria and the third in significance as well. It was created at the end of the 15th century but the first written information about it was preserved from the 17th century. The monastery church is of main interest here as it was built by master Konstantin from Peshtera in 1835. Zakhari Zograph (1849) painted the mural paintings in it. The carved wood iconostasis, work of a master from Tryavna (1839) is distinguished with genuine artistic qualities. The wood carving in the St. Nikola Monastery Chapel, created by Senior Monk Kipriyan in 1794 is amazing, too. The Monastery is famous for its miracle-working icon “Holy Virgin Troerouchitsa”. It was a renowned literary centre, too and nowadays it is in possession of a rich and valuable library. During the time of the struggles for national freedom Troyan Monastery was a genuine revolutionary nest. All the monks took part in the revolutionary committee headed by the well-known Father Makarii. The Apostle of Freedom - Vassil Levski often came here, too. One of his trusted men was his courier Father David from the village of Vratsa (Stefanovo), senior monk and later on Father Superior of the Monastery. The room he hid in has been turned into a museum.

The opening hours of the Monastery is from 7.30 to 19.30 (in winter to 18.00 h) (no days off). All the regular buses running between the town of Troyan and the village of Cherni Osam stop at the Monastery, around which a little tourist settlement of shops, restaurants, coffee bars developed.

There are accommodation facilities in the Monastery itself - 2 suites and 10 double rooms with their own sanitary facilities and shower. Low prices. Romantic atmosphere, silence and calm!

There are other accommodation facilities in the nearby (2 to 3 km) village of Cherni Osam: Sherpa Family Boarding House - working in summer and offering 5 double rooms, a common bathroom and a lavatory. A yard with a trellis vine and a fireplace. The Spomen (Remembrance) Family Hotel - 11 beds in 5 rooms with independent sanitary premises and a shower. There is central heating in winter. A 20-seat snack bar.

Accommodation cam be found in the other neighbouring village of Oreshak (1 km from the Monastery) in the Zheravitsa Family Hotel with 12 beds in rooms with 2 and 3 beds with their own sanitary facilities. There is also a snack bar.

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