Belogradchik Fortress & Rocks

The Belogradchik Fortress is an ancient fortress close to the northwestern Bulgarian town of Belogradchik and the town's primary cultural and historical tourist attraction, drawing, together with the Belogradchik Rocks, the main flow of tourists into the region. It is one of the best-preserved strongholds in Bulgaria and a cultural monument of national importance.

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 (230 ft) high from the other sides.

Veliki Preslav - Велики Преслав

The name of Preslav is of Slavic origin; apparently it was initially founded and functioned as a Slavic settlement until its fortification at the beginning of the 9th century. The proximity to the then Bulgarian capital of Pliska led to the fast development and expansion of Preslav during the reign of the Khans Krum and Omurtag. By the time of the coronation of Khan Boris I in 852, Preslav had turned into an important strategic military centre and was the seat of the Ichirgu-boil. A number of churches were built in the city after the conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity in 864.

In view of the impressive town planning, the vital economy and the grandeur of buildings like the Round Church and the Royal Palace, Preslav was a true rival of the largest and most important city centres in the western hemisphere. Culturally, it was the centre of the Preslav Literary School which was founded in Pliska in 886 and was moved to Preslav along with the rest of the court in 893. The greatest Bulgarian writers from the Old Bulgarian period worked in Preslav, among them John Exarch, Constantine of Preslav, Chernorizets Hrabar. It was probably around the Preslav Literary School that the Cyrillic alphabet developed in middle of the 10th century. The city had also large ceramic workshops which produced art ceramics, glazed tiles, as well as ceramic icons and iconostases.

The Golden Church

Entrance of the Church

Inside the Round Golden Church

Preslav "Fiala" - 10th Century

Square in Front of the South Gate of the Palace - 10th Century

Palace Basilica

Throne Room 

Palace Residences

Shumen Fortress

Historical - archaeological reserve "Shumen Fortress" is located in the park "Shumen Plateau" 3 km west of the center of Shumen. The area was inhabited as early as the early Iron Age (XII century BC). It is believed that at this location there was a fortress and a settlement for 3200 years. Later castles were built here by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and Bulgarians. According to archaeologists, it is built on four platforms in the early and late antiquity and in the Middle Ages it was expanded. At the time of the invasion of Avars and Slavs, the castle was destroyed. Later, the Bulgarian Khan Omurtag restored it. In the XI century it was conquered by the Byzantines.

The Fortress Entrance

A Roman Street

View of Shumen

Monument 1300 Years Bulgaria