The Church of the Holy Mother of God (The "Painted Church")
The most famous cave church, known for its exceptional 14th-century frescoes.Commissioned by Tsar Ivan Alexander (r. 1331–1371), the murals depict biblical scenes with rich colors and expressive faces.Notable fresco: "The Last Supper" and portraits of the royal donors.
A unesco world heritage Sight
The Ivanovo Rock Churches are a stunning complex of medieval cave churches, monasteries, and chapels carved into the cliffs near the village of Ivanovo, about 20 km south of Ruse and 40 km northeast of Popovo in Bulgaria.
The Monastery Complex
Includes monks' cells, chapels, and a refectory carved into the rock. Some caves were used for burials (medieval tombs can still be seen).
The Natural Surroundings
The cliffs overlook the Rusenski Lom River, offering scenic hiking trails. Nearby is the Rusenski Lom Nature Park, great for nature lovers.
Open: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (varies by season).
Closed on Mondays (check ahead).
🎟 Entrance Fee: ~5 BGN (€2.50).
⏳ Recommended Visit: 1–2 hours
Photo Credits
By Hans A. Rosbach - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...
By Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...
By Klearchos Kapoutsis - originally posted to Flickr as Ивановски скални църкви, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...
By XeresNelro - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...