Little is known about this bizarre rock monastery; the caves were first inhabited by 11th-century hermits, but what remains today was created during the 13th and 14th centuries, including some remarkable frescoes.
A signposted path (600m) leads to the three-level catacombs, accessed by stairways.
To walk to the monastery from Golden Sands, head up the road past the post office, cross the main Varna–Albena road, and follow the signs to ‘Kloster Aladja’ and the markings along the obvious trail. The walk takes an hour one way and wends its way through a wonderful, shady forest, part of the 1320-hectare Golden Sands Nature Park.
The road (3km) starts about 500m south along the Varna–Albena road from the start of the walking trail. The infrequent bus 33 from Varna to Kranevo drops passengers outside the front entrance of the monastery.
