The town of Rila has a population of 3 1000 inhabitants and is the municipal centre of 4 component settlements. It is located at the western foot of Rila Mountains in a beautiful valley along both banks of the Rilska River. The town lies at a distance of 64 km from the district centre of Kyustendil. The distance between the town of Rila and the Rila Monastery is 21 km.

Remains from an ancient settlement, most probably the Roman town of Sportela, have been discovered on the territory of the town

Tourist sights

The Rila Monastery is included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. It is the biggest and the most visited monastery in Bulgaria. It is founded in the X century and has preserved priceless evidence of the Bulgarian history. The present outlook of the monastery dates back to the XIX century. The monastery has the shape of an irregular square. The oldest building in the complex rises in the middle of the yard - the stone tower, built during 1334-1335.

Immediately next to it there is a small church from 1343. The rest of the monastery is built during 1834-1837. The mural paintings and the wood carvings of the iconostasis are incredibly beautiful. The whole complex is very impressive. The four-storey housing quarter consists of 300 monks' cells, four chapels, a kitchen, a library, a room for the abbot and rooms for benefactors.

Raphael's Cross is a masterpiece of art. It is made of an 81 x 43 cm piece of wood. The cross is named after its creator - the monk Raphael. 14 religious scenes and 60 small images are carved on the cross. The work on the cross continues until 1802 when its creator looses his sight. The monk dedicates 12 years of his life to make the cross using fine chisels, small knives and magnifying lenses.