Belogradchik Fortress, Belogradchik, Bulgaria

The Belogradchik Fortress,also known as Kaleto, is an ancient fortress located on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains, close to the northwestern Bulgarian town of Belogradchik and is the town's primary cultural and historical tourist attraction, drawing, together with the Belogradchik Rocks. It is one of the best-preserved strongholds in Bulgaria and a cultural monument of national importance.

The fortress's walls are over 2 metres thick in the foundation and reaching up to 12 m in height. Three separate fortified yards exist that are connected with each other through gates. The fortress has a total area of 10,210 square metres.

History

The initial fortress was constructed during the time when the region was part of the Roman Empire. The rock formations in the area served as a natural protection, as fortified walls were practically only built from the northwest and southeast, with the yard being surrounded by rocks up to 70 m high from the other sides.

Initially, the Belogradchik Fortress served for surveillance and not strictly defense. The Bulgarian tsar of Vidin, Ivan Stratsimir extended the old fortress in the 14th century, building fortified garrisons in front of the existing rock massifs. During Stratsimir's rule, the Belogradchik Fortress became one of the most important strongholds in the region, second only to the tsar's capital fortress of Vidin, Baba Vida.

During the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria, the fortress was captured by the Ottomans in 1396. They were forced to further expand the stronghold due to the intensified hajduk and insurrectionist activity in the region.

Considerable changes to the fortress were made in the early 19th century. These changes were typical for the Ottoman castle architecture of the period, a full reorganization being carried out, as well as additional expansion. Typically European elements were added to the Belogradchik Fortress owing to the French and Italian engineers that participated in the expansion.

The stronghold had an important role in the Ottoman suppression of the Bulgarian Belogradchik Uprising of 1850. It was last used in warfare during the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in Bulgaria

Address

Belogradchik, Bulgaria

See all sites in Belogradchik

Details

Founded: 14th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Bulgaria

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Baba Vida (44,4 km)
Chiprovtsi Monastery (31,9 km)
Lopushna Monastery (38,9 km)
Ratiaria (28,4 km)
Castra Martis (32,2 km)
Magura Cave (13,8 km)
Albotin Monastery (45,4 km)

User Reviews

WWS Alby (12 months ago)
Went there early in the morning during low season, no tourist was there. We had the place to ourselves. This fortress is hidden among the rocks, making it quite interesting. The form of the rocks is unique and there are signs showing you some background. It was cloudy, but no rain. The early sun makes the surrounding view look amazing.

Stelios Bakiris (12 months ago)
It was absolutely astonishing, really worth paying a visit. Magnificent place and sublime vibes and breathtaking views. Absolutely recommended!

Dazneyland (2 years ago)
Absolutely breathtaking experience! The Belogradchik Fortress is a wanderlust gem. The misty atmosphere added an enchanting touch to our visit, and when it cleared, the rock formations were revealed in all their glory. It may not have been a day for cross-border sightseeing of Serbia or Romania, but the fortress' natural beauty and the ability to explore the surrounding area made it a day well spent. A must-visit for any nature lover!

Nadia Dutrieux (2 years ago)
6lev per adult to enter. Paid parking. Very well taken care of fortress. Picturesque views of the Belogradchic mountains in the background - a photographer's dream destination as there are a lot of opportunities for beautiful photos to be taken. There are some steep steps to get to the top of the fortress - so make sure your shoes are not slippery at the bottom. Flip-flops not recommended as you can slip easily (in my opinion). People with knee problems might find it difficult to get to the top as there are quite a few steps. Taking a bottle of water with you might be a good idea as steps can be tiresome for some people. Good idea to take binoculars with as well. Definitely recommend and worth it to visit

Demetra Strateva (2 years ago)
Magnificent place. Even there are not many building survived, the wall and the gatehouses using the natural landscape and the out of this world rocks are impressive. If you are planning well you can enhance the experience by listening an opera during summer Opera festival.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright discopalace

Historic Site of the week

Sigmaringen Castle

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.

Belogradchik Fortress