Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches: 20 km to the south of Ruse, near Ivanovo village is located the unique Rock-hewn Monastery St. Archangel Michael.

The monastery is a network of numerous small rock-hewn churches, cells and chapels, hewn 32 m above Rusenski Lom River. The Monastery was founded in 13th century by the Monk Joachim, who later became Bulgarian Patriarch. During the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) it was a prominent centre of culture and literature. Its donors were representatives of the Royal court, including Tsar Ivan Asen II and Tsat Ivan Alexander, whose portraits have been preserved in the Monastery. During the years the Monastery was in a flourishing state, the rock-hewn churches were 40, and the other premises were about 300.

The unique thing about this Monastery Complex is that the beautiful frescoes in several churches are preserved until now. In these churches you may see decorations representing antique themes, wall-paintings representing biblical scenes, graphites and signs giving important historical data.