THE PARK
Nature park Rilski manastir
General information
The Nature Park Rila Monastery was established in May of the year 2000. Its territory is composed of 27,370.7 hectares of forest, meadow, and alpine peaks. 13,000 hectares are alpine meadows. The park was established in order to protect the ecologically valuable plant and animal communities existing here, as well as to preserve the remarkable diversity and beauty of the landscape. Each of these natural resources is developed for tourism.
Owing to the intense effects of high alpine weathering and the Rila massif's considerable gravitational force, here one may find typical alpine features such as scree and talus slopes. Especially impressive from a geomorphologic point of view is the area around the Kipilova Meadow, including a fascinating stone rainbow and several high alpine peaks – The Evil Tooth (Zleeya Zub), Iglata, Koopenite, Lovneetsa, Orlovets, and Eleni Vruhk. The entire slope rising from the Rila River is deeply serrated with many gullies and couloirs, through which rage flash floods, avalanches, and rock slides. The more famous of these gullies are Beliya Oolook, Dulgiya Oolook, and Varnika, known collectively as The Evil Streams. Due to the action of glaciers during the Quaternary geologic period, there now is a considerable...
General information
The Nature Park Rila Monastery was established in May of the year 2000. Its territory is composed of 27,370.7 hectares of forest, meadow, and alpine peaks. 13,000 hectares are alpine meadows. The park was established in order to protect the ecologically valuable plant and animal communities existing here, as well as to preserve the remarkable diversity and beauty of the landscape. Each of these natural resources is developed for tourism.
Owing to the intense effects of high alpine weathering and the Rila massif's considerable gravitational force, here one may find typical alpine features such as scree and talus slopes. Especially impressive from a geomorphologic point of view is the area around the Kipilova Meadow, including a fascinating stone rainbow and several high alpine peaks – The Evil Tooth (Zleeya Zub), Iglata, Koopenite, Lovneetsa, Orlovets, and Eleni Vruhk. The entire slope rising from the Rila River is deeply serrated with many gullies and couloirs, through which rage flash floods, avalanches, and rock slides. The more famous of these gullies are Beliya Oolook, Dulgiya Oolook, and Varnika, known collectively as The Evil Streams. Due to the action of glaciers during the Quaternary geologic period, there now is a considerable...
REGULATIONS
OURISM RESTRICTIONS
In Rila Monastery Nature Park the following activities are forbidden:
lighting a fire outside of the designated areas as specified by the Management Plan or organizational projects; areas where fires may be lit are indicated with a special symbol
cutting flowers, breaking branches and other actions which cause injury to plants
camping outside of the designated areas as specified by the Management Plan or organizational projects
crossing the Torfeno Branishte and Bistrishko Branishte reserves except along the marked paths specified by decree of the Ministry of Environment and Water or the Management Plan
crossing through zone 1 of the sanitary protective zones
CONSTRUCTION RESTRICTIONS
In Rila Monastery Nature Park all construction is forbidden except that which is prescribed in the Management Plan and organizational and technical plans and projects.
HUNTING AND GAME RESTRICTIONS
In Rila Monastery Nature Park hunting is forbidden except in the territory of the Vitoshko State Game Station, where this takes place in accordance with the edicts of the Law for Hunting and Game Preservation and the Management Plan.
In Rila Monastery Nature Park harassing wild animals is forbidden, as is collecting and destroying...
OURISM RESTRICTIONS
In Rila Monastery Nature Park the following activities are forbidden:
lighting a fire outside of the designated areas as specified by the Management Plan or organizational projects; areas where fires may be lit are indicated with a special symbol
cutting flowers, breaking branches and other actions which cause injury to plants
camping outside of the designated areas as specified by the Management Plan or organizational projects
crossing the Torfeno Branishte and Bistrishko Branishte reserves except along the marked paths specified by decree of the Ministry of Environment and Water or the Management Plan
crossing through zone 1 of the sanitary protective zones
CONSTRUCTION RESTRICTIONS
In Rila Monastery Nature Park all construction is forbidden except that which is prescribed in the Management Plan and organizational and technical plans and projects.
HUNTING AND GAME RESTRICTIONS
In Rila Monastery Nature Park hunting is forbidden except in the territory of the Vitoshko State Game Station, where this takes place in accordance with the edicts of the Law for Hunting and Game Preservation and the Management Plan.
In Rila Monastery Nature Park harassing wild animals is forbidden, as is collecting and destroying...
Training Center
National Center for professional training of Specialists and Managers in protected areas in Bulgaria
The idea for building a Visitor Information Center on the property of the Rila Monastery Natural Park has received its final form after the Administration of Rila Monastery Forestry Enterprise moved its offices to the town of Rila giving the Directorate of Rila Monastery Natural Park a piece of land. The building is a solid structure, constructed in year 1956 with a built-up area of 152 square meters.
The major objective was to develop a modern, easily accessible information center in the area of Pchelino (the bee garden) in order to provide space for permanent and thematic exhibitions, interactive exhibits in environmental practices and preservation of biodiversity, informal training programs to learn about nature and gain skills for protecting the environment, about the activities of the Natural Park, as well as internships in ecology. Here you can see our exhibition, learn more about the park's biodiversity, as well as receive comprehensive information from our specialists about our hiking trails.
Only here you will be able to hire and use our electronic guide - Cruso. Developed specifically for walks in nature and is applicable to any kind of tourism.
National Center for professional training of Specialists and Managers in protected areas in Bulgaria
The idea for building a Visitor Information Center on the property of the Rila Monastery Natural Park has received its final form after the Administration of Rila Monastery Forestry Enterprise moved its offices to the town of Rila giving the Directorate of Rila Monastery Natural Park a piece of land. The building is a solid structure, constructed in year 1956 with a built-up area of 152 square meters.
The major objective was to develop a modern, easily accessible information center in the area of Pchelino (the bee garden) in order to provide space for permanent and thematic exhibitions, interactive exhibits in environmental practices and preservation of biodiversity, informal training programs to learn about nature and gain skills for protecting the environment, about the activities of the Natural Park, as well as internships in ecology. Here you can see our exhibition, learn more about the park's biodiversity, as well as receive comprehensive information from our specialists about our hiking trails.
Only here you will be able to hire and use our electronic guide - Cruso. Developed specifically for walks in nature and is applicable to any kind of tourism.