The cave Church complex in Ivanovo is located in northeastern Bulgaria, 21 km away from the town of Ruse, near the village of Ivanovo. Located on the territory of Rusenski Lom natural Park. The complex is a unique for Bulgaria archaeological phenomenon: cave churches are carved at a height of 32 meters above the river flowing at the bottom of the canyon. Here there is a road with signs, arranged car Parking at the foot of the cliffs. To each of the churches, chapels and monastic cells laid rocky stairs.

The monastery in the early 13th century, founded the monk Joachim, who later became the first Patriarch of Turnovo in Bulgaria. Benefactors of the monastery were the kings of Ivan Asen Second, Ivan Alexander and other members of the Royal court. Their portraits are still kept in the monastery.

The heyday of the cliff falls on 10-14 century, at this time, there is formed the centre of the Bulgarian spiritual life. In the 13th century the inhabitants of the monastery for more than 20 years settled three hundred cells, as well as forty chapels and churches in the natural caves on both banks of the river. All of these spaces were combined into one large monastery complex of St. Michael the Archangel.

Ivanovo historical complex of rocks is the most popular in this region, tourists are attracted by the beauty and architectural restraint techniques, and a well-preserved frescoes in the six temples of the monastery. These samples of the mural - proof of excellence famous painters Turnovo school. Most of the murals created in the 14th century, the most famous of them is "the washing of the feet, "Peter's Denial", "Kiss of Judas". Its well preserved wall paintings Ivanovo cave monastery is a UNESCO world heritage organization UNESCO.

In the 14th century cave monastery of Ivanovo became a centre of Hesychasm (special mystical for in Orthodoxy). In the first centuries of Ottoman rule the monastery was still in force, but gradually the spiritual life here began to decline and rocky complex was empty. The status of the archaeological reserve of national importance monastic complex was acquired in 1978. Now part of the caves to the public, but the rest is in pristine condition..