The Rila Monastery (or the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila) is the biggest one in Bulgaria and has been one of the most important cultural and orthodox monuments in the country. It also became UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The Monastery is located near Pastra Village and in the valley of Rilska River. It was built in the remote X century by St. Ivan of Rila and is named after him up until today. Besides being mainly a spiritual center, the monastery also transformed into a prominen literary and educational center. Neofit Rilski founded a school in the monastery during the XIX century and many famous Bulgarians sought shelter here, including Vasil Levski, Gotse Delchev and Peyo Yavorov. Throughout the centuries the Rila Monastery was almost destroyed by fire, devasted, attacked and changed its location twice. Nowadays, the monastery consists of a residential part, tower with chapel, several churches, cloister and museum. The place is visited by tens of thousands of people from Bulgaria and abroad each year. Although it is located around 120 km south of Sofia and relatively close to Plovdiv, Pazardzhik and Blagoevgrad, realizable for a one-day trip, many people prefer to spend at least one night in the area. Tourists can choose among several hotels and guest houses very close to the Rila Monastery in Pastra, Gyolechitsa and Rila Town. Some prefer the accommodation options in Separeva Banya, Panichishte or Govedartsi. The Rila Monastery is also one of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.