Mezdra Fortress

The fortified complex called 'Citadel' is located on a natural protected hill, located where the main commercial roads intersect in Mezdra. The area of the Iskar River is inhabited since the end of the Stone Age and the beginning of the Copper Age, respectively the second half of the 5th century BC. After these prehistoric populations, who lived in the first known historical period of the area, the ancient Thracians were established here. In the I century the place was conquered by the Roman Empire, and in the seventh century, with the great migration of the peoples of Asia, came here the Slavs, and later the Bulgarians of Asparuh. In the eleventh century, the Byzantine emperor Vasile the Great conquered the northwestern Bulgarian lands. The area was then included in the Ottoman Empire for several centuries.

In 2013, the entire complex is restored and tourist routes are built. You can see the remains of the fortified settlements of different times, the “Sanctuary of the Tour”, a pagan worship center from the 3rd century. In a permanent exhibition hall are exhibited objects and archaeological discoveries from the 5 historical periods and a model of the Roman fortress “Kaleto”, dating from the  2nd-5th century. In a separate building are the handicraft workshops, the information center and the souvenir shop.

References:

• cdst.ro

Address

103 65, Mezdra, Bulgaria

Details

Founded: 3rd century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Bulgaria