This is an alphabetical list of the most interesting fortresses in Bulgaria. Choose your favorite place and click on it to see available rout.

"BABA VIDA" CASTLE

Once upon a time there was a Bulgarian boyar, who owned large domains from the Carpathian to the Balkan. After his death his three daughters, Vida, Killa and Gamza, divided the domains among themselves. The two younger sisters, Kuilla (her centre being the Bulgarian town of the same name) and Gamza (her capital was Gamzigrad, presently in Serbia), married hastily. They chose bad men, who carelessly wasted their fathers heritage. The eldest sister, Vida stayed single all her life. Under her leadership a castle was built up. She lived in it up to a ripe old age, successfully defending her subjects from hostile assaults.

As a sign of gratitude, people named the castle after her name when she died - "Baba Vida " or "The Towers of Baba Vida ".

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BELOGRADCHIK CASTLE

One of the most attractive historical monuments in the region. This ancient stronghold had been built among the unreachable rocks, when the Balkan Peninsula was within the confines of the Roman Empire (III century A.D.). The Vidin Tzar Ivan Sratzimir had used it as a mansion during the XIII century. Its present appearance is dated back from 1805-1837, when the Turks rebuilt it.

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BOJENISHKI URVICH FORTRESS

It's a medieval fortress (V-XIV senturies) based on high mountain hill near a vilage Bojenica region of Botevgrad (near Sofia).

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CHERVEN FORTRESS

The biggest and authentically preserved stronghold from the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. It was the administrative centre of the local boyar and the seat of the Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven.

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KOPSIS (ANEVSKO KALE)

Kopsis fortress is among the most impressive Medieval strongholds in Bulgaria. It is well preserved - the walls still keep its 12 meters height. The fortress is built in the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th - 14th centuries). Inside of the citadel is discovered monastery dated from 5th century AD.

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KOVACHEVSKO KALE

The stronghold has seventeen towers and two gates. It was built in 4th century AD under the reign of Constantinius the Great. The fortification wall is 3 meters in thickness and surrounds an area of 52 decars.

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KRAKRA (PERNIK FORTRESS)

The traces of life found here date back from 5th-4th century B.C. It was especially active under Roman rule. In the 10th and 11th centuries the fortress played an important part in the defense of the country against the Byzantine invasion. At that time it was governed by Krakra, ruler of another 35 strongholds in the region.

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KRASEN KALE

The fortress probably dates back to 10 century, and nowadays there are 6 meters high preserved walls. There are many extant parts of the fortress including buildings, fortress walls and very good extant waterkeeper (shterna). The fortress has inner and outer fortress walls.

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KRIVUS FORTRESS

The Krivus Fortress played a major defensive part in the Arda region. It was built around the 10th century. The Krivus fortress is repeatedly mentioned in the chronicles of Byzantine historians, and archaeologists discovered decorations, coins and weapons in it.

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KULA (CASTRA MARTIS)

Castra Martis is situated on the main road from Danube River to Roman province Moesia Supperior. It was built in the beginning of 4th century AD under the reign of Emperor Diocletianus. In 377 AD here stopped the troops of Gratianus on there way to Tracia. In 408 AD, Huns destroyed the fortress. Nowadays the fortress represents a real attraction with its completely preserved towers.

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LIUTICA FORTRESS

Lyutitsa is the biggest preserved fortress, situated in the farthest eastern part of the Rhodopes amidst infinite oak forests, perching on the highest peak. Its walls, at places 9 m tall, surround an area of 15 decares. Far back in the 8th - 9th centuries, Lyutitsa used to be a religious center of the Eastern Rhodopes, and in the 14th century it became a center of the Bishopric.

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LOVECH FORTRESS

In the Middle Ages Lovech has been one of the key fortresses North of the Balkan Range, whose fortress wall remnants can still be seen on the hill above the town. These walls remind of the events of 1187, when after a three-month siege of the fortress Byzantium was forced to sign a peace treaty giving the start of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

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MADARA FORTRESS

The Madara fortress is situated on the highest point upon the famous Madara Rider (under protection of UNESKO). It was built in 4th century AD and continued to be used till 15th century.

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MARKELI

The geographical location, on the Hisar hill (from Turkish - fortress), a part of the heights immediately southwards from the East Balkan Mountain, gives the chance to control the near Varbishki and Rishki passages. Probably during the reign of the Byzantine emperors Anastasius ² (491-518) or Justinian II (527-565) Markeli was constructed or reconstructed to defend the fertile valleys of Thracia from the numerous Barbarian invasions.

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MEZDRA FORTRESS

The first traces of settlement activity date from the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, when the Romans built the "Kaleto" fortress. In the times of the In ancient times the road connecting the Roman town Oescus with Serdica passed by. The foundations of the fortification wall lay on a layer dating from the Chalcolithic Age. The excavations revealed remains from various periods - dwellings, streets, objects. The layers at "Kaleto" have saved the history of the town and the items discovered witness for the richness and the prosperity of the ancient settlement. Find a tour with thise fortress included HERE.

MISIONES

The remains of the Late Antique and Middle Ages fortress are associated with the famous Byzantine city Misiones. The earlier cultural layer here belongs to the 5th century BC. In 9th century here was built a Bulgarian stronghold that played an important role in 13th - 14th centuries.

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MONIAK

The Monyak Fortress is situated on the unreachable slopes of the Monyak Peak, west of the Fist. The fortress used to be the main fortification of the Bulgarian rulers of the region at the dawn of the Bulgarian State. If you look around from the fortress, you will see a conquering scenic view of the mountain, especially in southern direction, where some enormous abysses start, reaching the dam shores.

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MONTANA FORTRESS

As a result of archeological excavations, a city gate and a big tower have been uncovered - a brilliant example of III - IV century fortress construction. Few more military and civil buildings have been uncovered too, basilica and masonry from the Roman empire, buildings from the stone - copper age in the lowest cultural layers, as well as Slavic dwellings and a sanctuary.

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NEUTZIKON (MEZEK FORTRESS)

The Mezek fortress is the best-preserved medieval fortress in the Rhodopes. It was built in 11-12 century, and stands among the beautiful northeastern slopes of the mountain. One is especially impressed by its cylinder-shaped, 10-meter-tall protective towers, built along the wall. The fortress played a major part during the last centuries of the Bulgarian state before its conquering by the Turks.

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OVECH

The fortress was built in the beginning of fourth century. The Byzantines named the stronghold "Provat". In 13th century Bulgarian king Kaloian and his brother Peter used it. In 1366 AD here were kept locked three noble knight leaded by marshal of Burgundy. In 1388 AD Turks conquer the fortress.

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SHUMEN FORTRESS

In 811 Shumen was burned by the emperor Nicephorus, and in 1087 it was besieged by Alexius I. During the golden age of Bulgarian culture under Simeon the Great (866-927), Shumen was a centre of cultural and religious activity, and may have born the name Simeonis. Until the 15th century, the city was located around the Shumen Fortress, a sophisticated complex of defensive installations, religious and civil buildings.

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SILISTRA FORTRESS

It is built in 18th Century from the Turkish called Medjidit. Still some of the locals call it Medjidit Tabia - The forthess of Medjidit. There were 7 m high walls and 3 m width. The fortress is still in a very good condition. All of the Turkish and soldiers were killed after building it as they knew its secrets. You still can see peoples bones inside the fortress when walking around. It is build on the highest hill in Silistra and the view from the hill is amazing.

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SLAVOVA FORTRESS

The fortress dates back to the beginning of XI century. It was reconstructed and strengthened by despot Alexii Slav between 1215 and 1218 and was named after him (the fief of despot Alexsii Slav). The fortress played an important role under the reign of Ivan Asen II, when the town of Melnik was a residence of the boyar Dragota. The eastern wall is preserved and reaches up to 10 metres in height at some places. The fortress is surrounded by solid fortified walls and towers and separated by a moat.

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STANIMAHOS (ASSEN'S FORTRESS)

Assenova Fortress is named after the great Bulgarian ruler Ivan Asen II. After this king had extended Bulgarian borders reaching 3 seas - White Sea, Black Sea, and Adriatic Sea, he activated and enormous construction work with aim to strengthen and fortify the fortress of Rhodope rampart. In 1410, after the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman Rule, the fortress was destroyed, because of the civil struggles of the Turkish commanders. The work of restoration started in 1934 and continued until nowadays. Find a tour with thise fortress included HERE.

STORGOZIA

In the first millennium BC, the Thracian population settled here, and after them the Romans found road station and the fortress "Storgozia". The archeological finds show that the life in the Kailaka settlement continues during the Middle Age. The fortress itself was built in the late antique period - IV-VI c., on an area of 31 decades. Preserved and restored are: the fortification system, early-Christian basilica and horeum. The basilica with dimensions 45 by 22 meters is three - naved, three - abscind, with a colonnade on the south side.

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STRELCHA FORTRESS

The region of Strelcha and the whole South Thrace has been included in the borders of the First Bulgarian State in 9 century. During that time the stronghold Strelchansko Kale has been built and it has been functioning until the 14 century. The fortress is positioned on the right bank of the Strelchanska Luda Yana River and its 8-meters high protective walls clearly illustrate the character of this age. In its foot for centuries has prospered Strelch or Strelets city. The present name of Strelcha is derived from this old name

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TIRIZIS (KALIAKRA FORTRESS)

Kaliakra is a beautiful cape close to the Romanian border. Usually, it is the final stop of foreign tourists looking for pretty sights and interesting places to the north of Varna. The fortress was successively used by Tracians, Romans, Byzantines and Bulgarians. According to legends, the fortress was guarding the treasures of Lyzimah, successor of Alexander the Great. Today there are many remains of those ancient settlements, which can be seen in a small museum.

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TSAREVETS CASTLE

The Tsarevets Hill was the main fortress of the medieval Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo. During the period (1185 - 1395) of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom Bulgaria was the largest and the most powerful state in Southeastern Europe. Nowadays there is a show which recreates the history. The "Sound and Light " audio-visual show is an unique attraction in Europe. There are less than three similar spectacles all over the World. A dramatic music and flashing lights, lasers, heavy church bells combined together tell the glorious and tragic story of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 - 1393). Find a tour with thise fortress included HERE.

TSEPINA FORTRESS

One of the most inaccessible Rhodopian fortress is located at Batak mountain hill. There was a wall surrounding the fortress, which nowadays is preserved and is 6 meters high and 3 meters thick. There was and an inner citadel, which occupies territory of about 1 500 meters. Very impressive for the visitors are the four waterkeepers, which are 10 deep and are very dangerous for those who have decide to bend over them. There have been leaded excavations and the founded remaining are exposed in a tourist chapel near to the fortress.

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TVARDITSA FORTRESS

The name Tvarditsa comes from the old Bulgarian word tvardina, which means "fortress" or "fortification". The fortress with its strategic location played an important role in the country's defense system during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, when Tarnovo became the capital. The town's name was never changed from the foundation of the initial settlement to our day.

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URVICH

The historical information (construction of the walls, other remains) shows that the fortress was built during the XIII century in the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Preserved today are parts of the outside wall with a height up to 6 m. and parts of the walls of the inner court church "St. Ilia". Emphasized is the role that Urvich played in the defence of the Second Bulgarian Empire. A legend says that in this location were the last battles of Tsar Ivan Shishman, called by the local habitants Tsar Jasen.

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USTRA FORTRESS

Ustra is the most picturesque fortress in the Rhodopes. It stands on a steep rocky peak, which offers an incredible scenic view to the Eastern Rhodopes. Ustra was built in the Middle Ages, about 10th century. It was ruled mainly by Byzantines, and only rarely by Bulgarians. It was used for control and defense of the main road. A part of its eastern wall, as well as the whole foundation of the buildings and the defensive towers, are well-preserved nowadays.

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VISHEGRAD

The Vishegrad Medieval Stronghold is among the most famous ones in the Rhodopi Mountains - it was often mentioned in the chronicles of the Byzantine annalists. Situated on a panoramic peak above the Arda River, the stronghold used to control the main road passing through the region. Its walls are still preserved at a height of up to 6 meters. The spot reveals wonderful views of the Cold Well Dam and the town of Kardzali .

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VRATSATA FORTRESS

"Vratsata" means "the doors" in Bulgarian. There was a high fortress wall with gate in the Roman epoch - 200m long and 1m wide.. With its vertical and sharp slopes it's one of the most interesting places for rock climbing in Bulgaria.

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YAILATA FORTRESS

A small fortress is situated on the northern part of the plane terrace known as the Big Yayla. The various archaeological artifacts made from copper, bronze, bone and clay and numerous coins found there indicate that the fortress was built at the end of the 5th - beginning of 6th century A.D. It was finally destroyed in the last quarter of the 6th century and the settlement survived the burned ruins of the fortification for another couple of centuries. A Proto-Bulgarian settlement emerged there as late as the 9th century. Find a tour with thise fortress included HERE.