The St Petka Monastery belongs to the most important holy places of Christianity in Bulgaria. The exact date of its building is unknown, but it was some time during the 12th century. It was destroyed three times during the Turkish oppression, but every time it was quickly rebuilt by the locals. The monastery is situated in the middle of a beautiful forest in the northern slopes of the Rhodopes, and the view from there is scenic, revealing the whole Trakia Plain. From the outside it looks like a real fortress, with tall stone walls, keeping inside some incredible works of art and architecture. There is a heavenly garden in the yard, full of flowers and cypresses with lovely paths curving between them. The church stands in the middle of the garden. The church is proud of its wonderful frescoes and icons, as well as an archaic well that gives the monastery a special colour. There is also Vasil Levski’s hiding place, which he used to rely on while doing his revolutionary work in the area.