Sokolski manastir

The monastery with the round fountain

Sokolski Monastery "Holy Mother's Assumption" stands about 15 km southwest of Gabrovo, on the northern slopes of the Stara Planina Mountains, inside Bulgarka Nature Park and close to the Etar open-air museum. It is an emblematic monastery of the Bulgarian National Revival, founded in 1833 by Archimandrite Yosif Sokolski, after whom it is named.

A small wooden church was built first (1833), its frescoes completed the following year. The monastery played a part in the Bulgarian national movement: one of the volunteer bands linked to the uprisings of the era, associated with figures such as Hristo Botev and Panayot Hitov, gathered here.

What to see

The centrepiece of the courtyard is the famous round stone fountain with eight spouts, the work of the great self-taught master builder Kolyu Ficheto (around 1865) and a recognised symbol of Revival-era architecture. The church preserves mid-19th-century frescoes painted by masters from the Shipka area. The whole ensemble — timber-galleried cells, the quiet yard and the surrounding forest — has an understated, very photogenic charm.

Practical

It is easily reached by car from Gabrovo, the road passing near Etar. This is an active monastery; mind the dress code and respect services in progress. The ideal pairing is a visit to the Etar museum and a short walk in Bulgarka Nature Park. Spring and autumn are the loveliest seasons. Visitors rate it highly (around 4.7/5).