Belyova Church, Medieval Orthodox church near Samokov, Bulgaria.
Belyova Church is a medieval Orthodox church building near Samokov featuring a nave with an interior porch and semi-cylindrical vaults. The structure employs crushed stone mixed with mortar as binding material for its walls.
Archaeological evidence reveals three distinct construction phases beginning in antiquity and extending through the medieval period. The different building techniques show how the church was renovated and adapted across centuries.
The interior walls feature frescoes painted in 1869 by Bulgarian artists including Nikola Obrazopisov. These paintings reflect how the local community expressed their faith through religious art during that period.
The building sits about 2 kilometers south of Samokov on the left side of the road toward Borovets ski resort. The straightforward location makes it easy to find when traveling in that direction.
During Ottoman rule, the building was partially buried underground between 1657 and 1712 to shield it from possible destruction. This hidden existence was a survival tactic that communities used to preserve their sacred places.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
