The Barbican, the 15th century bastion with a circular floor plan used to belong to the wall system of the Bishop's Castle. Its construction is linked to the visit of General Pál Kinizsi, who came to the town in 1498. In the shadow of the Turkish threat the defence systems of castles and towns were strengthened all around the South. The Gothic-style gate tower was built in the 15th century at the western corner of the high castle wall. The Barbican is a round gate tower sitting on a narrow column. Its back gate served a specific purpose: it enabled the defenders to attack the attacking enemy getting in the gate from the side. The Barbican is surrounded with the remains of the castle ditch and you can walk up to the entrance on the old drawbridge. The pulleys of the drawbridge are still displayed inside.
There is a fantastic view opening towards the town from the top of the bastion. You can walk along the machicolation (the wooden walkway) on the top of the Barbican.
After defence structures became obsolete during the 18th-19th century, similarly to other parts of the town, houses were built around the castle wall. The buildings that were built along the castle walls were demolished in the 1960s making the old Barbican as well as other parts of the wall free and visible again.
References:Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia located near Gradsko. It is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where the Erigon (Crna River) joins the Axios (Vardar), making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare.
Stobi developed from a Paeonian settlement established in the Archaic period. It is believed that in 217 BCE, Philip V annexed Paionia during his campaign against the Dardani who had entered Bylazora, the largest Paeonian town.
The city was first mentioned in writing by the historian Livy, in connection with a victory of Philip V of Macedon over the Dardani in 197 BC. In 168 BC, the Romans defeated Perseus and Macedonia was divided into four nominally independent republics. In 148 BC, the four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. In the reign of Augustus the city grew in size and population.