Leva Reka – Levorechki Monastery

The Monastery of the Forty Martyrs of Levorechki offers a tangible cultural point of interest in Leva Reka. For additional cultural and nature experiences, you can explore the wider destination of Tran.

Levorechki Monastery near Leva Reka

The active Monastery of the Forty Martyrs of Levorechki lies about one kilometre north of Leva Reka in the Elovishka Mountains. Its church is designated a cultural monument of national importance and preserves frescoes dating back at least to the 17th century. The access road is considered relatively good, and ordinary passenger cars can reach the monastery. As road conditions may change, check them before setting out.

Culture and nature in the wider destination of Tran

At the Yoghurt Museum in Studen Izvor, you can learn about the life and work of Dr Stamen Grigorov, who discovered the bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus that forms the yoghurt culture. The museum presents the history of yoghurt, from home fermentation to modern technologies. The Historical Museum in Tran has a historical section and an art history section.

Near the village of Erul, the church of Erul Monastery is distinguished by architecture characteristic of the period from the 11th to the 14th century. Its valuable old icons date from the 17th and 18th centuries. This makes it possible to place the architecture and the collection of icons in different centuries.

Another cultural attraction in the wider destination of Tran is the rock chapel of Sveta Petka. It is designated an archaeological cultural monument; visible there are the footprints and handprints of the saint, as well as a petrified loaf of bread. In summer, the chapel is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. In winter, visits are possible from Wednesday to Sunday by phone appointment made the day before; it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check the opening hours before your visit.

In the area of the village of Vrabcha, in Tran Municipality, Vrabcha Waterfall is designated a natural monument. It is four metres high; beside it, the water has carved a 20-metre-deep rock tunnel. A small path alongside the road to Vrabcha follows the Vrabchanska River and reaches the waterfall after about a 15-minute walk.

The Yablanitsa Gorge lies between Vrabcha, Transka Bankya and Tran and was formed by the Yablanitsa River. It is designated a natural monument in the areas of the town of Tran and the village of Bankya in Tran Municipality. A path through the gorge starts in the village of Transka Bankya. An eco-trail also runs through the area, passing unique karst-erosion landforms and rich wildlife. In the wider destination of Tran, the 27-kilometre cycling route 102 of the “VeloErul” circuit passes through Erul. The ride takes about four hours, is of moderate difficulty, follows mixed terrain and is marked in blue.

Discover more destinations: Zelenigrad, Dimitrovo.

Back to the wider travel overview: Pernik Province.