Belashtitsa Monastery

Belashtitsa Monastery is an Orthodox monastery located in Belashtitsa village nestled in the Western Rhodope Mountains. The complex includes a single-nave church, a chapel, residential structures, and farm buildings arranged around the main sanctuary.

Byzantine military commander Nikephoros Skifi founded the monastery in 1020 after Emperor Basil II granted him land as reward for victories in the Balkans. The current church building was constructed in 1838, replacing or expanding earlier structures on the site.

The monastery is home to nuns who maintain Orthodox traditions through daily religious services and monastic life. Visitors can sense how the community preserves Bulgarian religious practices within these walls.

The monastery sits south of Plovdiv and is accessible by road through the Rhodope region. As an active convent, visiting hours may vary depending on religious services, so checking conditions before arrival is wise.

A stone fountain from 1831 and a holy spring occupy the outer narthex of the monastery. These water sources have served the community and pilgrims for nearly two centuries.