Bulgarian Rebirth

Rilski Manastir (Rila Monastery), on the River Rila in western Bulgaria, is famed as the birthplace of Bulgarian nationalism. The fortress-like monastery in the Rila Mountains was founded in the 10th century and has since been damaged by avalanches and fire. After Bulgaria fell to the Ottoman, or Turkish, Empire at the end of the 14th century, the monastery served as a repository of Bulgarian culture and art. In 1876 Rilski Manastir was the site of an uprising against the Ottoman conquerors. The rebellion was crushed, and Bulgaria did not gain its independence until 1908. Today the monastery, now a museum and a World Heritage Site, is a popular tourist attraction.

Margot Granitsas/Photo Researchers, Inc.