Belogradchik Fortress

Belogradchik Fortress - Белоградчишка крепост, Belogradchik, Vidin Province, Republic of Bulgaria.

The Belogradchik Fortress "Kaleto" is the most visited tourist site in the Belogradchik region. Located in the heart of the Belogradchik Rocks, the Belogradchik Fortress is a cultural monument that attracts visitors from all over the world. It is not only a testament to the rich historical heritage of Bulgaria, but also a place where nature and history meet. The Belogradchik Fortress is the perfect place for those who want to immerse themselves in the past, admire the natural beauties and combine adventure with cultural enrichment.
The Belogradchik Fortress is a cultural monument of national importance and the second most authentic fortress in Bulgaria. The Romans built the first fortifications here in the 2nd-3rd century, using the natural inaccessibility of the rocks and erecting only two walls. The function of the fortress at that time was to guard strategic roads crossing the region. In late antiquity, it was part of the defense system of the Roman and later the Byzantine Empire. The Romans built the highest part of the fortress, called the Citadel. About 200 meters from the main fortress there are remains of another fortification, which is still called the Roman Citadel, whose purpose was a forward observation post.
At the end of the 7th century, the fortress fell into the territory of the newly established Bulgarian state. It was completed by the Bulgarians. During the reign of Tsar Ivan Sratsimir (1356 - 1396), the fortress was expanded and fortified. In 1396, the Ottomans conquered it and later rebuilt it. A garrison was placed in it to protect the western part of the empire and to suppress the uprisings of the Bulgarians.
The Belogradchik fortress has three separate courtyards, the total area of ​​which reaches 10,210 sq. m, and one fortification. The highest point of the fortress, called the First Plate, reveals a beautiful view of the surrounding massifs of the Belogradchik Rocks, the heights of the Pre-Balkan and the Stara Planina Mountains.

Source: www.visitbelogradchik.bg