Krakra Fortress
Description
Named after the 11th-century Bulgarian boyar Krakra of Pernik, this fortress played a key role in defending the First Bulgarian Empire against Byzantine attacks. Built after 809 AD in what is now the city of Pernik, it covered 50 decares with an 800-meter-long, 2-meter-thick wall following the plateau's natural curves.
Krakra successfully defended the fortress during two sieges by Emperor Basil II in 1004 and 1016, the latter lasting 88 days and earning the nearby valley the name “The Bloody.” The fortress was abandoned after the Third Crusade passed nearby in the late 12th century. Today, visitors can see ruins of walls, residential buildings, and churches, including the site where a rare silver seal of Tsar Petar I was discovered — marking his visit en route to see St. Ivan Rilski in the Rila Mountains.