Hrelyova Tower

Hrelyova Tower is a defensive fortification medieval facility built by protosevast Hrelyo during the 1334-1335 year and intended to shelter. Located at 1147 meters altitude in the eastern courtyard of Rila monastery.
Construction of the tower is connected with the relocation of the monastery on its present site. Hrelyova Tower serves to protect the monastic brotherhood, while a stash of monastic values at risk. During the Ottoman rule repeatedly used in troubled times to prevent bandit raids and attacks. The tower was used as a prison and isolation of mentally ill.
Hrelyova Tower is almost square base of 7.75 x 8.25 m. And a height of 23 meters. In its thick 1.8 m walls are built steep stone steps. Elliptically arched ground floor is slightly dug into the ground. The only entrance to the tower was to I floor with removable wooden connection with the terrain. The rooms I to IV floor are designed for temporary habitation - have wooden floors and sparse lighting in battlements (vent). At the base of the tower there is a well with drinking voda.Ima holes where to pour boiling oil and tar on napadatelite.Serviznite rooms have washbasin (II floor) and latrines (III and IV floor) in the form of bay windows.
V floor of the tower is the chapel "Transfiguration of Christ" with unusual iconography. In the eastern part of the chapel is the oldest preserved image of Ivan Rilski. North, south and west chapel is surrounded by a narrow gallery, covered with small blind arches cross between domes and to the east is the altar niche. On each side there are three powerful buttress associated with brick arches, which enhance the stability of the tower and carry bay issued chapel.

In 1844 the west side of the tower was built two-storey belfry.
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