Location:
The Petropavlovski monastery, known also as Lyaskovets monastery, is one of the 14 monasteries built in the neighbourhood of the old capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo, during the Second Bulgarian State (12-14th century). The monastery, named after St Peter and St Pavel, is one of the best preserved monasteries from that time, not least because of its hard-to-reach location. It perches over the high and inaccessible rocks of the Arbanasi plateau, 6km to the northeast of Veliko Turnovo. The monastery and particularly its 31-high belltower are well seen from the lows and according to many, it resembles a mysterious medieval castle. Once one climbs to it, its terrace reveals a glorious view over the Danube plain and the Balkan mountains.
About the monastery:
It is believed that the Petropavlovski monastery was built during the rule of the Asenevtsi family but there is no written evidence to confirm it. After Bulgaria was included within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire, it was several times set on fire and then rebuilt. In 1662, it became famous even outside the Ottoman Empire and Russia’s Peter the Great gifted it with a gold-plated Gospel.
