The Bachkovo Monastery is the symbol of Christianity in the Rhodopi Mountains. It played the major part in keeping the Christian faith during the centuries of Turkish oppression, as well as in the preserving of old Bulgarian books. It is located in a thick broad-leaved forest below the Red Wall (Chervenata Stena) Reserve, and over the Chaia River. The monastery is still visited by thousands of pilgrims every day. It was founded by the Georgian brothers Bakuriani in 1083. Over the centuries the Bachkovo Monastery was ruled by Bulgarians, Turks and Byzantines. In the 15th century, when it was destroyed by the Turks, only the bone-vault survived. It is still in perfect condition today. The present church was built on the foundations of the destroyed temple in 1604. The monastery is famous for its miraculous icon of Virgin Mary.