Aladzha Monastery, Municipality of Varna

Aladzha Monastery is the most famous medieval rock monastery on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It was inhabited by hermit monks in the 13th-14th centuries. The premises of the monastery were carved on two levels in almost 40 meters high limestone rock. On the first level, there are the monastery church, the monks' cells, the refectory and kitchen, a small cemetery church, the crypt (ossuary) and the outbuildings. The second level consists of a natural rock niche and in its east end, the monastery chapel was built.