Rila Monastery

Location: Rilski manastir · Kyustendil

Monasteries and places of worship

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Official name: Рилски манастир
Settlement type: Monastic settlement
Municipality: Rila
EKATTE code: 62685
Elevation range: ≥ 1000 m

Data: National Statistical Institute, EKATTE More about the settlement on Wikipedia

Administrative data as of 15 May 2026. Coordinates: NSI layer 2025.1, reference date 31 December 2025.

Rila Monastery lies in the valley of the Rilska River and preserves the legacy of Saint John of Rila. Its courtyard brings together the medieval Hrelja Tower and a richly decorated church with painted arcades. The complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

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More about this place

Rebuilding after a nineteenth-century fire shaped the monastery’s present architectural character. Its influence on Balkan building and art reflects its role as a spiritual and literary centre during the Bulgarian Revival.

Sources for the additional information

ЮНЕСКО — Рилски манастир

Reviewed on October 13, 2026

Population and area

Population: 20 people; as of December 31, 2025
Source and references
Wikidata
www.nsi.bg
Wikidata
Area reported by the source: 231.6 km²
Source and references
Wikidata
az-pitam.org
Wikidata