In my country, there is a lot of talk about the beauty of the Rila Mountains and their seven lakes in Bulgaria. I visited the Rila Mountains in 2022, and when a new opportunity arose, I naturally didn't pass it up. We set off for the nearest border crossing, located 30 km from my town. After crossing the border, we headed toward Sofia, the capital, which is just 100 km away.We didn't go into Sofia; instead, we drove another 100 km and reached our destination. If the tour of Rila and its lakes is well-planned, it takes five hours, so it is possible to return home the same day.But this time, I also wanted to visit Rila Monastery. We took the cable car up to the mountain lodge, got a room, and set off after lunch.First, let me briefly describe what you are about to see. The Rila Mountains are the highest mountain range in Bulgaria and also the highest part of the Balkan Peninsula.One of the most famous natural treasures of the Rila Mountains is undoubtedly the Rila Lakes, a group of seven glacial lakes situated at altitudes of around 2,100 meters.The Seven Rila Lakes constitute the most beautiful and most visited part of the Rila Mountains. Viewed from below—from the lowest to the highest—they are: the Lower Lake, the Fish Lake, the Trefoil, the Twin Lake, the Kidney, the Eye, and the Tear.Three trails lead from the mountain lodge. The trail we took led us—roughly halfway along the way—to Kidney Lake, which, in my opinion, is the most beautiful lake.

After the kidney-shaped lake, the trail continues uphill toward the next impressive sight. Lake Oko lies at an elevation of 2,440 meters and reaches an incredible depth of 37 meters. Snow lingers here the longest because the glacial cirque containing the lake is open only to the north.The trail continues along the southern side of Lake Oko, from where a slightly steeper ascent to the third and highest lake -Tears , begins.This is by far the smallest in terms of area, but it is located at an incredible 2535m above sea level

Then we went back along the path and went around the other lakes. All these lakes are connected by a river rising from them and flowing into another lake. The Dzeram river springs from the last lake. Fish Lake is distinguished by its grassy banks and—as you have likely guessed—takes its name from the fish that abound there. The largest and narrowest lake is Blizanac (or Bliznaka); interestingly, this lake narrows in the middle, so during dry years when water levels are low, it effectively splits into two parts. Clover (or Trefoil) Lake is irregular in shape, forming three semicircles that resemble clover leaves. The Lower Lake, which is the last in the chain and sits at the lowest elevation...

Let me also tell you the legend of how the lakes came to be. The waters of the Rila Lakes are also known as the Tears of the Sun. According to legend, a village once stood where the lakes are now located; a beautiful young woman named Smiljana lived there. She was so beautiful that the Sun fell in love with her, delighting in watching her every day until it set. However, one gloomy day, Smiljana went with her friends to the plain to meet the local bey. The bey was captivated by the young woman and tried to assault her; when she fiercely resisted, he decided to punish her by hanging her. When the Sun rose the next day and beheld the tragic scene, it wept. The Rila Lakes were formed from its tears.

We spent the night at the mountain lodge and visited the monastery built on the mountain the next day. Rila Monastery is the largest and most important Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It was founded in the 10th century; according to tradition, it was established by Saint Ivan of Rila, a Bulgarian monk and saint. Saint Ivan of Rila spent his life in seclusion, seeking spiritual peace. He lived in a cave not far from the site where the monastery stands today. Legend and tradition hold that many of Ivan of Rila’s disciples came to the mountains to hear his teachings, and that it was they who built the monastery.The monastery complex itself includes several churches, the most famous of which is the "Birth of the Virgin", which is decorated with fantastic frescoes and icons. Many manuscripts, books and documents that are significant for the history of Bulgaria are preserved in the monastery. We stayed here for 2 hours and headed towards Serbia. I know that this mountain left an incredible impression on me.

Thank you for reading my post.