The mountainous place where Ivan Rilski chose to establish his hermitage is remote, pristine and serene. In the ninth century, he moved here to escape the laxity of other monasteries, and after his death, the place turned into a major spiritual center. The monastery was founded in 1335, 4 km west from the original hermitage. It was plundered, burned and the reconstruction was seen as a patriotic duty, with public fund raising involved. The architecture is massive when seen from the outside: it truly looks like a fortress. Which makes the inside all the more surprising: it is harmonious and graceful, with arches and balconies surrounding the whole courtyard. In the center of the yard stands the monastery church, with its undulating roofline and cupolas. It is vividly painted with colorful frescoes.