Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox Monastery in Bulgaria. Situated just over an hours drive from Bansko to the north it is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains some 1147m (3763ft) above sea level. It attracts over a million visitors each year from all over the world. Founded in the 10th Century the Monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Saint Ivan of Rila (876-946 AD). It is rightly regarded as one of Bulagria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is depicted on the back of the 1 lev banknotes issued in 1999.…