Pilgrimage Tour „Orthodoxy from the Danube river to the Balkans“

Craiova – Strehaia – Maglavit – Vidin – Montana – Vratsa – Pleven – Veliko Turnovo – Arbanasy – Ruse – Bals – Calui – Craiova

Length of the pilgrimage route: 1121 km.
Trip duration: 7 days
Appropriate season: Year-round

This pilgrimage tour lasts for 7 days and includes visits to monasteries and churches located in and around the settlements Craiova -Strehaia – Maglavit – Vidin – Montana – Vratsa – Pleven – Veliko Turnovo – Arbanasy – Ruse – Bals – Calui – Craiova. Some of the suggested monasteries offer accommodation and where this is not possible the pilgrims may prefer to chose a hotel or other type of accommodation.

Day 1



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Day 2



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Days 3 и 4



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Day 5



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Day 6



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Ден 7



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Day 1
Day 1 – Craiova – Strehaia – Maglavit - Vidin

Visit to Madona Dudu Church, St. Demetrius Cathedral, Mântuleasa Church and the Church of the Holy Trinity, Craiova (optional)

Departure to Strehaia and visit to the Monastery of Strehaia

Departure to Maglavit and visit to the Monastery of Maglavit

Departure to Vidin, Bulgaria

Dinner and overnight accommodation in Vidin

Day 2
Day 2 – Vidin - Montana – Vratsa - Pleven

Visit to the Cathedral of Saint Demetrius, Church of Saint Paraskevi and Church of St. Pantaleon in Vidin

Free time in Vidin: a tour of the Baba Tonka Fortress, visit to the Historical Museum and the Krastata Kazarma museum (optional)

Visit to the Strupeski Monastery of St. Elijah the Prophet, Vratsa

Lunch in the Monastery area

Departure to Pleven

Dinner and overnight accommodation in Pleven

Day 3
Day 3 – Pleven – Veliko Tarnovo

Visit to the Metropolitan Church of St. Nicholas, Church of St. Paraskevi and the Church of Holy Trinity, Pleven

Visit to the Chapel Mausoleum of Saint George the Conqueror, Pleven

Lunch in Pleven

Walk to the Skobelev Park and Ossuary Memorial or visit to the Kaylaka Park and the Wine Museum

Departure to Veliko Tarnovo

Dinner and overnight accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo

Day 4
Day 4 – Veliko Tarnovo

Visit to the Tsarevets Fortress and Trapezithsa Hill, Veliko Tarnovo

Visit to the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos, the Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs and the Church of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Veliko Tarnovo

Lunch in Veliko Tarnovo

Free time: visit to the old part of the Veliko Tarnovo

“Light and sound” show – Tsarevets Fortress

Dinner and overnight accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo

Day 5
Day 5 – Arbanasi – Veliko Tarnovo

Visit to the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos and the Monastery St. Nicholas of Myra, Arbanasi

Visit to the Church of the Nativity of Christ, Arbanasi

Lunch in Arbanasi

Visit to the Church “St. Athanasius”, Arbanasi

Overnight accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo

Day 6
Day 6 - Ivanovo - Ruse

Departure to Ivanovo

Visit to the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo and Medieval Fortress of Cherven

Departure to Ruse and lunch on the Danube river

Visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Church of St. George in Ruse

Dinner and overnight accommodation in Ruse

Day 7
Day 7 – Ruse – Balș- Călui – Craiova

Visit to the Regional Historical Museum and the ancient Roman fortress of Sexaginta Prista (optional)

Departure to Balș and visit to the Monastery of Măineşt

Departure to Călui and visit to the Monastery of Călui

Departure

How to get here?

  • Sofia International Airport, Bulgaria
  • Craiova International Airport, Romania
  • Otopeni International Airport, Bucharest, Romania
  • Car rental, bus, train, own transport, travel agencies in Bulgaria and Romania

Visa requirements

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria, address: 1113 Sofia, 2 Alexander Gendov Street; telephone: +359 2 948 2999; web site: https://www.mfa.bg/en/uslugi-patuvania/konsulski-uslugi/patuvane-bulgaria/viza-bulgaria
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania; tel. +40 21 232 55 07; Website: http://www.mae.ro/taxonomy/term/450/2