Trapezitsa Fortress, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Trapezitsa is located on a hill around which the Yantra River winds in Veliko Tarnovo. Steep cliffs make the place difficult to access. The first fortified settlement, built on the hill, dates from the late Chalcolithic Age (4200-4000 BC). During the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age there was a Thracian settlement on the hill.

The first traces of the medieval defense system on Trapezitsa date back to the 12th century AD. Main fortifications were built in the 13th and 14th centuries, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. Then Tarnovo became the capital of Bulgaria, and Trapezitsa was the second most important citadel of the city, after Tsarevets.

In 1195 Tsar Ivan Asen I transferred the relics of St. Ivan Rilski to a church built on Trapezitsa Hill. A monastery was built around it, bearing the name of the saint. Tsar Kaloyan transferred the relics of St. Gabriel of Lesnovo to the church “St. Apostles ”on Trapezitsa.

The hill is surrounded by a thick fortress wall made of crushed stone. Its height reached 6 meters. The fortress was entered through four entrances. The main entrance to Trapezitsa was located on the southeast side and was connected to Tsarevets by a bridge over the Yantra River opposite the Holy Forty Martyrs Church.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in Bulgaria

User Reviews

Moe Chekhar (9 months ago)
Takes you back in time! Especially the Church! Also looked meticulously well maintained

Bruna Paz (10 months ago)
The fortress is amazing for a walk around and explore what ancient times seemed like and felt like. It’s a bit pricey for the place itself. The ticket is 10 leva for a walk. The walk is kid friendly and not to hard to make however in order to see some places there are many steeps and uphill which can be a bit difficult. I recommend to go in the morning so there’s no line for the tickets and it has less tourists.

Jiboo piu (2 years ago)
A must if you visit Bulgaria. This fortress is beyond big, is huge! Loved the Church on top

Derek (2 years ago)
The fortress is amazing and considerably bigger than expected. There are spectacular views of the city. There is lots of information posted all over the fortress, however we had a tour guide who gave us fascinating insights into the whole history of the fortress, the palace and monastery etc within.

Tomas M. (Tomas985) (2 years ago)
This place is huge. To see everything you would need all day. The main castle is really pretty inside and if you pay 3 euros to get on top of it - views are astonishing. The surrounding area is also nice, worth visiting and good for a walk. Some information is playing from the speakers but not all of it in English. However, upon entering we were asked if we needed an English guide. The most impressive view of this fortress is of course at night or the evening when the lights are on. It is a really nice site to see.

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Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

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