Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo
Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo are churches, chapels and cells dating back to the 13th century, carved into the massif of a limestone mountain and located in the natural caves of the area. They are located above the canyon of the Rusenski River, near the village of Ivanovo, 20 km from the town of Ruse in Northern Bulgaria. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
General information
Since the 13th century, hermits and monks have carved into the rocks about 40 churches, chapels, monasteries, as well as about 300 cells. They are located on both banks of the river. In the 14th century the walls were painted with magnificent frescoes, and today you can see these well-preserved frescoes in five caves. They testify to the outstanding talent and skill of the artists of the Tarnovo school. The caves were inhabited up to the 17th century.
The Church of Our Lady is the earliest, here is a beautiful portrait of Tsar Ivan Alexander. The so-called Ruined Church has a portrait of King Theodore’s first wife. She became a nun. A picture of Tsar Ivan Aseny II has also been preserved. The second Bulgarian kingdom was founded by two brothers – Aseni and Peter in 1185, and their descendants ruled until 1396. The kings often made substantial contributions to the cave churches, which is why they are often depicted here..The Rusenski Lom River is subject to floods, which caused the caves to suffer damage in 1979 and 2005.
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