Aladzha Monastery is one of the 120 medieval rock monasteries close to the seaside that are rapidly becoming tourism hubs in their own right. The monastery was founded during the Second Bulgarian kingdom, around the 13th century, and inhabited by hermit monks. It is located in the beautiful lush woodland of the Golden Sands National Park about 17 km from Varna and 4 km from Golden Sands. Aladzha Monastery was opened in 1906 as a museum and tourist site, and was declared a national monument of culture and antiquity. It also houses a church, a smaller chapel, monastic cells and a small museum that exhibits its colourful history. Aladzha (meaning multi-coloured in Turkish), due most probably to the bright colours of its wall paintings, contains rooms carved into the rocks on two levels in the almost 40-meter high limestone rock connected via an external staircase. The lower floor hosted the monks' private cells, common rooms (i.e. kitchen, dining room) and a small church, while the upper level was dedicated entirely to a chapel. According to some historians, primitive monks' cells were built and inhabited already in the 4th century AC. The entire monastery is considered to date back to the 12th century AC.
The monastery is decorated with religious frescoes, but unfortunately most of them are damaged today. There are a lot of legends about unknown tunnels and labyrinths within the rocks where great treasures lay hidden. In 1912 the Shkorpil brothers made extensive researches. The monastery was declared a national record, and in 1957 it became a monument of culture.

Katakombite (The Catacombs), is located 800 meters southwest of Aladzha Monastery - and is a group of monks cells (caves) on 3 different levels in the cliff. Katakombite caves share a similar history to those of Aladzha Monastery, but have suffered even more by the passage of time, being in an even worse state that the relatively well preserved monastery. Archaeologists have found pottery and coins there that prove that the Catacombs were inhabited in the Early Christianity period between the fourth and sixth century.

The Flora of the "Golden Sands National Park” includes about 500 species of higher plants. 21 species are rare or threatened with extinction. Trees and bushes occupy 90% of the park. Mixed broad-leaved forests are the prevalent type and oriental Hornbeam, Turkey Oak and Hungarian Oak are dominant. There are also Silver Lime, Flowering Ash, Horn Beam, Maple, Longoz Plants, Field Ash, Cerris Oak, White Poplar, Alder and others. There are Horse-Tail, Orchid, Lily of the Valley and also rare species such as Thin-veined Wormwood and Flat-leafed Mayweed, Winter Snowdrop, Caucasian Primrose, Orchid and many others. In the park there are 2 species of amphibian, 8 species of reptiles, 78 species of birds, and 25 species of mammals. There is a rich diversity of reptiles, Grass Snake, Tortoises and others. The most typical birds are Blackbirds, Thrushes, Titmouse, Woodpeckers, Jays, Buzzards, Big Hawk, Owls, Forest Owlet. The mammals are represented by the Deer, Wild Boar, Squirrel and Hare whilst there is a diversity of insects like the magnificent Stag-Beetle, and butterflies like the Red Admiral and others.

Located in the centre of Golden Sands resort, above the Casino,

where regular chapel services are held every Sunday from 9am.