The village of Bachkovo is famous for its legendary monastery, a very important place for Bulgarians. Nestled amidst a beautiful valley, it was founded in 1083 by the Georgian Prince Gregory Pakourianos, a Byzantine Commander. Many Bulgarian kings have contributed to the expansion of the monastery. Even under Ottoman rule, it continued to receive support and donations from the Christian population. The beautiful Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary was built in the courtyard of the monastery in 1604, and contains rare sculptures and items from the 17th century.
The monastery was last restored in the years 1830-1840, with frescoes by Zahari Zograf and his students. The monastery church is the location of the beautiful and “miraculous” icon of the Virgin Mary. You can still see the library with its collection of old Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Georgian books, as well as Byzantine musical manuscripts from the 13th century and wonderful religious manuscripts written in Georgian.