Dragalevtsi Monastery Traditional Cache
garu: I am archiving this cache since there's been no response from nor action by the cache owner within the time frame requested in the last reviewer note.
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
SITUATION
The Dragalevtsi Monastery named “Sveta Bogoroditsa Vitoshka” is placed 3km south from Dragalevtsi District in the skirts of Vitosha Mountain. As one of the most beautiful and easily accessible monasteries, it could be a nice direction while walking in the mountain.
HISTORY
The monastery was built in 1345 by the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and Ivan Alexander (1331-1371). Unlike other monasteries this one has been saved from the destruction of the Ottomans, but unfortunately few years later it was left by the monks. It was renewed by the boyar from Sofia Radoslav Maver. During the restoration the church in the monastery was decorated with beautiful frescoes, which could be seen today. Some of them like the portrait of Radoslav Maver and his family are especially valuable. In XVII century more wall-paintings were made in the church and in 1932 the territory of the monastery was extended with a new building. Today the both parts of the monastery differentiate only in the architectural style.
The monastery is known also with its monastic school and was an important center of the secret revolutionary committee against the Ottoman yoke in the middle of XIX century. The abbot- father Genadii was a good friend with the national hero and fighter for freedom Vasil Levski and helped him a lot by hiding him from the ottomans in the monastery. Later on Abbat Genadii left the monastery in order to join the national liberation movement and died in it.
The Dragalevtsi Monastery is also a big cultural center in the new history of Bulgaria. The famous and talented poet Peyo Yavorov has written there one of his best poems “Ston”.
ACCOMODATION
Despite the fact that the Draglevsti Monastery is now opened for visitors and includes few big buildings, you cannot spend the night there or buy food and drinks, except of coffee and cold drinks on the entrance. Near the monastery is Dragalevtsi District, where there are many hotels and restaurants. Tavern Vodenicata is also on the way to the monastery.
TRANSPORT
The monastery can be reached from Sofia by car for 20-30 minutes on a good asphalt-paved road, which begins from the square in Dragalevtsi District. Unfortunately there are no labels for the Monastery, but you can ask someone to show you the direction. You can also use public transport to Dragalevtsi and than walk half an hour along the direct paths in the mountain.
TELEPHONE
+359 2 9673360
Information from (visit link)
The cache container is a small plastic box in a black plastic bag.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf oruvaq fbzr fgbarf va n fgbar jnyy arne gur ragenapr bs gur zbanfgrel. Vg vf cynprq ba gur uvtug bs gur 4gu fgrc (pyvzovat)