Belogradchik Fortress

The Belogradchik fortress is a Bulgarian historical and architectural monument. The Bulgarian architects Diakovich and Dobrouzki made the first hypothesis for the ancient building in the end of the 19-th century. In the period from 100 to 300 AC, there was an ancient fortification situated on the highest point of the rock massive. It once guarded the Roman road going along the north from Ratsiaria (on the Danube), passing trough the Balkan Mountains and going on south towards Nish, Skopie and Rome.

The road was usually used for military purposes. The main way for communicating was by means of smoke signals during the day, using huge fires by night and when there was fog - by making ear-splitting sounds by pounding enourmous drums. 150-meter-deep pits encircled the fortification and the only way to enter it was by a 25-meter ladder curved directly in the rock. The archeological research has found many arrows, spear tips and metal parts, as well as pottery and Roman coins from the 3rd century. Furthermore Bulgarian historians have found proof that about 17 other fortresses in the Belogradchik region exist, whose parts include bases of ancient buildings and also an aqueduct. In the second half of the 14th century, the Bulgarian ruler Ivan Sratzimir decided to make the existing fortification larger. He also founded two walls (Southeast and Northwest) and put a garrison inside it. During his reign, the Belogradchik fortress was the second one due to its size and importance after the Vidin fortress, which was Ivan Sratzimir’s main castle.
The Belogradchik Fortress is believed to be one of the most attractive historical monuments near Belogradchik. This ancient stronghold was built among the unreachable rocks, when the Balkan Peninsula was still part of the Roman Empire (3rd century A.D.). The Vidin Tzar Ivan Sratzimir once used it as a mansion during the 8th century. The Turks rebuilt the fortress during the period from 1805 to 1837 and so the Belogradchik Fortress hasn’t changed so far.