The monastery as a point of reference

The Kurilski Monastery of Saint John of Rila gives Novi Iskar a concrete historical point of reference. It is located on the right bank of the Iskar, about 1 km northeast of Kurilo in Novi Iskar, and can be reached via the road from Sofia to Novi Iskar. The river, the district and the road connection together provide clear geographical orientation for planning.

Monastery history and complex

The monastery is a historic spiritual site connected with an earlier monastery dating from the First Bulgarian Empire. Two later dates can be distinguished for the present-day church: it was rebuilt in 1593 and painted by the renowned artist Pimen Zografski in 1596. The early connection therefore concerns the monastery’s history, while the two dates refer to the present-day church. This chronology helps explain the site’s different historical layers: an older monastic tradition, the rebuilding of the church and its painting.

The monastery complex includes a museum area, a library, an archondarik and a bell tower; the courtyard has also been renovated. Thus, in addition to the church, the complex comprises several other components. Access conditions may apply to individual facilities. Check which areas are accessible before your visit.

More culture in the wider destination of Stolichna

In Stolichna, Boyana Church offers another cultural and historical point of reference: it stands at the foot of Vitosha in the Boyana district of Sofia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Its construction phases date to the 10th and 11th centuries, the 13th century and the 19th century. The 1259 frescoes include portraits of Tsar Konstantin Asen Tih, Tsarina Irina, Sebastokrator Kaloyan and Desislava. The construction history of the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church belongs to a different period: construction began in 1904, was completed in 1912, and the church was consecrated in 1924. Thus, the wider destination of Stolichna brings together different historical periods, from medieval frescoes to an early 20th-century church building.

Nature and activities in the wider destination of Stolichna

Vitosha Nature Park is also part of the wider destination of Stolichna. It was established in 1934 and was the first nature park in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula. Sports and tourism opportunities are available there year-round, with lifts, huts and tourist facilities. In winter, you can ski and snowboard on the ski slopes above Sofia. In the warmer months, activities include family outings with picnics and outdoor games, climbing, paragliding and mountain biking. As the availability of individual facilities may change, check specific facilities before planning your visit.

For a route with a specific duration, the yellow-marked Knyazhevo–Byalata Voda–Golden Bridges trail is a useful reference: it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes. Check local trail conditions before setting out. A different perspective on the landscape is offered by the panoramic path on the eastern shore of Pancharevo Lake, with views of the Vitosha and Plana mountains. In the wider destination of Stolichna, clearly identified routes and viewpoints are distinct from the cultural highlights; they complement the picture of the region without replacing Novi Iskar’s monastery history.

Discover more destinations: German, Sofia, Vladaya, Bistritsa, Bankya, Dolni Pasarel, Krivina, Ivanyane

To the wider travel overview: Sofia.