The Transfiguration Monastery (Преображенски манастир)

Just a few kilometres away from Veliko Tarnovo, right below a unapproachable rocky wreath above the Yantra river, the Transfiguration Monastery is located- the largest of the Tarnovo monasteries. The beginning of its story dates back to the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom during the reign of Queen Theodora-Sarah and her son Ivan Shishman (15th C.). Thus the adjectives added to the name- Sarah’s or Shishman’s Transfiguration Monastery.

Just like most monasteries in Bulgaria during the time of the Ottoman domination it had been demolished, later on rebuilt in the period 1825-1882. A curious fact about the monastery is that in the past it had been located about 500m away from its present day location, chosen during its reconstruction in the 19th C.

The official holiday of the monastery is celebrated on 6th August- the Holy Transfiguration of Christ.

Intriguing is the story from the long gone 1991 when a huge rock slides down from the cliffs above the monastery. It’s a sheer miracle that the monastery is left untouched and no one has been hurt, all thanks to the clock tower that takes the hit. Part of the rock can still be seen to the right of the clock tower.

One of the murals that draws attention is the Wheel of Life that can be seen on the exterior of the church.

We strongly advise you to spare some time for this really interesting place during your stay at the Kalina Palace Hotel.