Rusenski Lom Nature Park

"What a great unesco heritage site! Please take your time climbing up to the top and make sure you have sturdy shoes. You can either go up the path with outstanding views over the valley or you can go up the stairs where you would have a handrail it will take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes to get to the top when we were here it was not busy, but I cannot imagine on days when the park is filled
I love Bulgaria! This is my second visit and this time I had o get to to the Ivanovo Rock Churches as I missed it the first time. It’s one of Bulgaria’s most magical hidden gems and a proud UNESCO site. These rock-hewn churches were carved straight into the cliffs by monks beginning in the 12th century, and while there were once eight of them, only one remains open to the public today: the Holy Virgin’s Rock Church.

Back in the 13th century, cave monasteries were the thing in Bulgaria and even the Bulgarian Tsars supported Ivanovo, helping create one of the most remarkable religious sites of the era. We spotted several of the old cave churches tucked into the cliffs — though they’re no longer accessible.

Ivanovo faced a unique challenge when it was built: tradition required the church entrance to face west… but the only cave opening on that side sat 125 feet up a sheer cliff. So what did the medieval builders do? They built a wooden walkway clinging to the rock wall. Can you imagine inching along that in the 1200s? Thankfully, the archaeologists who excavated the site added a far less terrifying entrance on the eastern side. Bless them.

Inside, the church is covered floor to ceiling in original, untouched 13th-century frescoes — no restorations, no modern touch-ups, just medieval brilliance. Near the original entrance you’ll even find the the Bulgarian king and queen themselves, offering a model of the church carved right into the rock.

They have unheard of in church art: a classical Greek-inspired nude figure painted into the architecture — the only fully nude depiction ever found in church frescoes.

Because Ivanovo is UNESCO-protected, the frescoes cannot be restored — only preserved. And while nature does its slow work (light, storms, moisture), the biggest threat is actually earthquakes and the flashes from cameras and the oils from our hands. Pieces of stone have already fallen from the ceiling, taking tiny irreplaceable fragments of fresco with them.

If you have the chance to visit, go soon. It’s one of those places where history still breathes, where the art is untouched, and where you truly feel the weight of the centuries above and around you. I’m so glad I did not miss this."

Christina Ernst

"Amazing place for a perfect Sunday. The park is beautiful and the variety of birds butterflies and vegetation is breathtaking. If you want to feel the soul of nature , climb the stones and enjoy it !i"

Isidor Theodorian

"Great view, there is a guide that help you understand the history of this amazing place of Bulgaria."

Iulia B