St. Trinity Monastery of Rakovitsa and Chernoglav Peak

Rakovitsa monastery "Holy Trinity" is located under the peak Chernoglav between the villages Rakovitza and Kireevo, Kula municipality, almost on the border of Bulgaria with Serbia. There is not much information about the early history of the monastery. It was founded in X-XI century and during the Middle Ages was an important literary and cultural center in Bdin area. After Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, the monastery was completely destroyed. A small church survived but without its paintings. During the Bulgarian Revival, the monastery became a very significant spiritual, cultural, and educational center for the people of the region. In 1848, there was opened the first secular school in northwestern Bulgaria. Today lime plaster is carefully removed and the magnificent frescoes are preserved. Under the Renaissance layer of frescoes was found and old one, yet to be investigated. Chernoglav Peak (858.0 m) is located on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. Apart from beautiful nature, this peak grabs attention with an interesting legend related to the origin of its name. Once upon a time, there was a vast expanse of sea around. In the middle of this expanse stood a small island and at the top of this island there was a cave, where lived a dragon with a black head. He was the guardian of the entrance between the two worlds of the Upper and Lower earths. A long time passed and the sea receded, the land began to bear fruit and was inhabited by humans. During these times, the dragon protected the population from evil halls and foreign dragons. He took care of the fertility of these lands, helping the locals in diseases and troubles. Out of gratitude for the help, but also for luck and protection, the people woven the dragon image into carpets, with which they laid the floors of their homes.