Rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo and Medieval Cherven re-open to visitors

The open-air exhibitions of Ivanovo Rock Churches and the Medieval Town of Cherven were visited by nearly 330 tourists in just three days, after the bans on visiting outdoor museum sites were lifted.

The largest number of visitors were from Rousse, followed by visitors from Razgrad, Varna and Pleven. According to the tour guides, the restaurants and meadows in the vicinity of the historical site were visited by nearly 1,000 people.

The re-opening of Ivanovo rock-hewn churches, which are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of the world., and the medieval town of Cherven took place in strict compliance with the provisions of the order of the Minister of Health for he anti-epidemic measures. Conditions have been created for a one-way flow of tourists, and museum workers wear protective face masks, gloves and use disinfectants.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the rock complex in Ivanovo will be open for visits again. The medieval Cherven now works without a day off from 9.00 to 18.00. From Friday, May 15, the open-air Roman fortress "Sexaginta Prista" will be open as well. It will also be open all week from 9.00 to 17.30, provided all anti-epidemic measures are adhered to.

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The Rock Churches of Ivanovo is a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells located near the village of Ivanovo in the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north-east Bulgaria. This is where the first hermits had dug out their cells and churches during the 12th century. The 14th-century murals testify to the exceptional skill of the artists belonging to the Tarnovo School of painting.

The five historical monuments in this group (chapels, churches, etc.), dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, serve as examples for the distinctive character development and mastery in the art of the Second Bulgarian State (1187-1396). The richness, the variety of the cells, chapels, churches, monastery complexes, the original architectural solutions - all set in a magnificent natural environment - confirm the value of this extraordinary historical grouping.