Rila Monastery Nature Park

Overview

Rila Monastery is one of the largest nature parks in Bulgaria with an area of ​​25,253.2 hectares. The park is the second most visited among the natural parks in the country after Vitosha. It is located in the municipality of Rila and covers the middle and high mountain parts (750 - 2713 m above sea level) of the western part of Rila, includes forests, mountain meadows and alpine areas. On the territory of the park is the reserve Rilomanastirska gora with an area of ​​3665 hectares. The highest point in the nature park is Rilets peak with a height of 2713 meters. Includes botanical and eco-trails. It was established in 1992 as a protected area within the newly established Rila National Park. In 2000 it was removed from its composition in order to enable the Rila Monastery to restore its ownership over part of its real estate (the lands in the national parks are exclusive state property). Today most of the park is owned by the monastery. 1,400 species of higher plants, 38.88% of the higher flora in Bulgaria have been identified on the territory of the park. 80 species of plants are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. 32 species of vertebrates are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Bulgaria, among which are alpine newt, tree frog, mouse dragon, goldfinch and bald eagle. The vertebrates protected by the Biodiversity Conservation Act are 139 species.