The Cherepish monastery was built during the Second Bulgarian Empire, under the rule of Tsar Ivan Shishman (1371-1393). Like many other Bulgarian monasteries, it was destroyed several times under Ottoman rule.
The St George’s church of the monastery has kept its original design since the 16th century. The frescoes that decorated the walls were painted in the 19th century.
The numerous caves around Cherepish made it the perfect hiding place for Bulgarians during the Russo-Turkish war (1877-78). The last battle against the Turks, led by Georgi Apostolov, was fought in the neighbouring area of the Cherepish Monastery. Legend has it that before leaving, the Turks hid gold and relics in some of the caves near the monastery. Many other legends of monks who discovered a cave full of gold still survive from this period.
Today, the area surrounding the monastery has many hiking routes along the Iskar river. The renowned Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov referred to this area as the 'Bulgarian Switzerland'. The monastery also offers accommodation for up to 30 guests.
References:The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.