-BULGARIA- PIRAMIDES DE MELNIK “Monasterio de Rozhen”
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 5.68 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,276 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,191 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,210 ft
- TrailRank
-
71
3.7
- Min elevation
- 1,158 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 2 hours 24 minutes
- Time
- 4 hours 3 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1570
- Uploaded
- May 15, 2018
- Recorded
- May 2018
near Melnik, Област Благоевград (България)
Viewed 5132 times, downloaded 146 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
|
THE CITY OF MELNIK is declared a natural and architectural reserve and 96 of its constructions are cultural monuments, it also has its city title for historical reasons, not because of its number of inhabitants, as it is the smallest town in the whole country with only 365 people. The findings of antiquity discovered in archaeological excavations bear witness to its centennial history.
In Melnik are the Melnik Pyramids, impressive natural pyramids made of sand and clay, which give the name to the city to be 'mel' clay, which can be found in various forms such as obelisks, ancient towers and mushrooms, and that extend for 17 kilometers through the city and its neighbors.
Besides being famous for its incredible architecture, this city is also famous for its wine. The Melnik wine is made to be taken when it is still young.
MONASTERY OF ROZHEN
The Rozhen monastery is the center of ecclesiastical life in the region. It dates from the 13th century and is one of the best preserved medieval monasteries in Bulgaria, and also the largest in the Pirin region.
The monastery has an irregular hexagon shape that is distributed around the church of the Holy Virgin of the sixteenth century. It is a monastery that is very simple and humble, it is a functional monastery where monks live and work, so it is advisable to speak out of respect.
As usual in orthodox monasteries, it consists of a cloister (in this case, an irregular hexagon) built around a church that is in the center of the courtyard. This church is called Rozhedstvo Bogorodichno, Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and gives the monastery its name.
In the sixteenth century the south wing and the main church were built, and in the seventeenth century the frescoes were painted. In the second half of the seventeenth century it was devastated by a fire and later rebuilt again in the eighteenth century, thanks to donations from wealthy Bulgarians.
In a chapel, next to the entrance of the monastery, there is a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, called "Portaitissa" (the one that guards the door).
THE ROUTE:
It is a linear route from the Melnik town to the Rozhen monastery.
An easy tinerario between both populations by streams and dry channels but that as it is promoted you can enjoy spectacular landscapes, impressive natural pyramids made of sand and clay, which can be found in various forms such as obelisks, ancient towers and mushrooms
After the route that is linear nothing better than enjoying good wine in the small taverns of the town that make their own wine.
In Melnik are the Melnik Pyramids, impressive natural pyramids made of sand and clay, which give the name to the city to be 'mel' clay, which can be found in various forms such as obelisks, ancient towers and mushrooms, and that extend for 17 kilometers through the city and its neighbors.
Besides being famous for its incredible architecture, this city is also famous for its wine. The Melnik wine is made to be taken when it is still young.
MONASTERY OF ROZHEN
The Rozhen monastery is the center of ecclesiastical life in the region. It dates from the 13th century and is one of the best preserved medieval monasteries in Bulgaria, and also the largest in the Pirin region.
The monastery has an irregular hexagon shape that is distributed around the church of the Holy Virgin of the sixteenth century. It is a monastery that is very simple and humble, it is a functional monastery where monks live and work, so it is advisable to speak out of respect.
As usual in orthodox monasteries, it consists of a cloister (in this case, an irregular hexagon) built around a church that is in the center of the courtyard. This church is called Rozhedstvo Bogorodichno, Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and gives the monastery its name.
In the sixteenth century the south wing and the main church were built, and in the seventeenth century the frescoes were painted. In the second half of the seventeenth century it was devastated by a fire and later rebuilt again in the eighteenth century, thanks to donations from wealthy Bulgarians.
In a chapel, next to the entrance of the monastery, there is a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, called "Portaitissa" (the one that guards the door).
THE ROUTE:
It is a linear route from the Melnik town to the Rozhen monastery.
An easy tinerario between both populations by streams and dry channels but that as it is promoted you can enjoy spectacular landscapes, impressive natural pyramids made of sand and clay, which can be found in various forms such as obelisks, ancient towers and mushrooms
After the route that is linear nothing better than enjoying good wine in the small taverns of the town that make their own wine.
Waypoints
Photo
1,146 ft
Intersection
Religious site
Comments (3)
You can add a comment or review this trail
This is a very nice walk. The Melnik pyramids are amazing! We walked a little extra, to Rozhen village, and had a nice lunch there. The walking is not too difficult, with only a tiny bit of climbing.
When we were back in Melnik it started raining and the dry river bedding (channel) turned very fast into a wild river! If the rain had started while we were walking, we would have had a problem. So:
WARNING. DON'T GO IF THERE WILL BE RAIN.
Thank for the comments and the recommendation. I'm glad you enjoyed the ride
I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Easy
Nice and easy trail. First part a little boring. The view of the pyramids is incredible.