
The Gornovoden Monastery of St. Kirik and Julita is located 2 km from Asenovgrad and 14 km from Plovdiv. It is nestled in the foothills of Chernatitsa ridge of the Rhodope mountain range and it can be reached on foot along a trail or by car via an asphalt road. The quarters of Gorno Voden and Zapad of Assenovgrad are a key starting point for the monastery. The monastery has existed since the Middle Ages, repeatedly burned and destroyed. Written data about it was given by priest Methodius Draginov and according to him in1657, when in the area there was a forcible conversion of local Bulgarians to Islam, the Monastery of St. Kirik and Julita was again destroyed. It is believed that there were two monasteries here and maybe that's why there is a mix of cults, as in 1810 both of them were burned by the organized bandit groups called 'kardzhalii' and in 1835 the Gornovoden Monastery was rebuilt. In 1808 a spring was made, covered with a dome, which is the oldest building in the monastery. The main campuses were built in 1835-38, while in 1850 the chapel was completed. The latter was named after the Saints Kirik and Julita and it was located 500 m from the holy spring. In the early 20th century, there was also a theological school here, but in the 40s the complex was turned into a concentration camp, and later it was abandoned. In the 80s the Union of Architects prepared a restoration project and it was turned into a holiday home and a hotel. Today the monastery is a complex of church and residential buildings. The church is dedicated to St Petka and it was built in 1850. It represents a pseudo-basilica with three naves, two conchas and a dome, and the vault of the porch is in the form of a blind dome. The murals are made by the painter Alexi Atanasov and the iconostasis and icons - by Zachary Zograph. The visit to Gornovodenski monastery may be combined with a visit to the Kuklen Monastery of St. Cosmas and Damian, a walk in Asenovgrad and a visit to the Arapovski Monastery, Bachkovo Monastery, Asen's Fortress and the many churches and chapels in Asenovgrad. The area around the monastery is suitable for picnics and trekking.
Hotel Tsarevets 


Location: Asenovgrad municipality, 4230 Assenovgrad
Address: 4 Tsarevets Street
Approximate distance: 2.4 km, direction: east
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Hotel Chiirite 


Location: Plovdiv municipality, Plovdiv
Address: Industrial Zone South, Okolovrasten Road
Approximate distance: 12.4 km, direction: north-west
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City Motel Hotel 
Location: Plovdiv municipality, Plovdiv
Address: Industrial Zone South, 20 Kuklensko Shosse Street
Approximate distance: 13.6 km, direction: north-west
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Alex Apartments Location: Plovdiv municipality, Plovdiv
Address: 382K Plovdiv-YUG
Approximate distance: 15.0 km, direction: north-west
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Hotel Fenix Club 

Location: Plovdiv municipality, 4004 Plovdiv
Address: Hristo Botev Yug, 18a Silivria Street
Approximate distance: 16.4 km, direction: north-west
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Hotel Noris 


Location: Plovdiv municipality, Plovdiv
Address: Kamenitsa, 27 Ilarion Makariopolski Street
Approximate distance: 16.9 km, direction: north-west
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Capital City Center Apart Residence Location: Plovdiv municipality, Plovdiv
Address: Center, 49 Hristo Botev Blvd.
Approximate distance: 17.0 km, direction: north-west
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Guest Rooms Ruven 
Location: Plovdiv municipality, 4000 Plovdiv
Address: Center, 17 Kostaki Peev Street
Approximate distance: 17.0 km, direction: north-west
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Studio Sinneya 


Location: Plovdiv municipality, Plovdiv
Address: Industrial Zone East, 53 Gen. Radko Dimitriev Street
Approximate distance: 17.1 km, direction: north
more informationDormition of the Theotokos Church
Approximate distance: 2.2 km, direction: east
St Marina Church
Approximate distance: 2.3 km, direction: east
Convent of the Bachkovo Monastery
Approximate distance: 2.3 km, direction: east
St Nicholas Church
Approximate distance: 2.3 km, direction: east
Ethnographic House
Address: 34 Stanimaka Street
Approximate distance: 2.4 km, direction: east
St George Church
Approximate distance: 2.5 km, direction: east
Museum of HistoryAddress: Third of March Street
Approximate distance: 2.6 km, direction: east
Annuciation of Theotokos Church
Approximate distance: 2.7 km, direction: east
St Holy Trinity Church
Address: Center
Approximate distance: 2.9 km, direction: east