Dryanovo Monastery

The historical St. Archangel Mihael Monastery of Dryanovo is situated
in the beautiful Dryanovo River valley, 4 km of the town of Dryanovo.
It was built in the 12th century during the Second Bulgarian State.
During the Turkish yoke the monastery was destroyed twice but later was
restored as a strong fortress of the Bulgarian spirit. In 1845, the
monastery was built on its current location.

Most of the glorious events in the Bulgarian history took place in this
monastery. The most regular visitor of the monastery reverend Mathew
Preobrajenski - Mitkaloto brought with him Vassil Levski in 1871.
During the April rebellion, a band, numbering 200 Bulgarian volunteers
and leaded by the Pope Hariton Voivode and Peter Parmakov, arrived on
the monastery. The band was ringed and after a fierce fight the Turks
burnt down the monastery.

After the Liberation a monument - Mausoleum, designed by the
Italian Djovani Musiti, was erected at the very spot of the burnt
monastery. Its frame is eight wall pyramid, ending in a sphere and a
cross. The ossuary was made of local white stone. There is a white
marble statue of a rebel, worked by Luca Argini in Rome. There are 60
skulls of rebels in the crypt and their names have been written on
marble tables.

The monastery library keeps a great number of manuscripts and church books.

Dryanovo monastery is among the most visited tourist spots in Bulgaria.

Source: visit.bg