Bulgaria
One of Europe’s oldest nations, founded in AD 681, Bulgaria offers a rich tapestry of religious and cultural history that makes it an exceptional pilgrimage destination.
Across the country’s breathtaking mountains and valleys stand ancient monasteries, some more than a thousand years old, where remarkable frescoes, treasured manuscripts, and enduring Orthodox traditions have been carefully preserved. These sacred sanctuaries, many still active today, continue to shape Bulgaria’s spiritual landscape.
Bulgaria is also renowned for its long tradition of craftsmanship and agriculture, producing fine red and white wines and nearly 70% of the world’s rose oil.
Sofia, founded on ancient sacred springs over 7,000 years ago, is home to the monumental Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the early Christian Church of St. Sofia. Plovdiv—Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city and the 2019 European Capital of Culture—reveals layers of Thracian, Roman, and Christian history.