Description
Tsari Mali Grad is a unique Roman fortress in Bulgaria, the only one with a moat and a rampart. The fully restored complex was officially opened on July 18, 2013.
In this fortress, you can go back to ancient times and imagine yourself as part of the daily life of the people of that period.
Park at the Ethnographic Museum, where among others, old crafts are depicted, and you will also get an impression of what the traditional houses in Bulgaria looked like.
Continue your adventure uphill.
For the indefatigable there are 2 hiking trails, one is quite steep; the other is longer, but with the newly built ropes course in the forest on the way there, this is a great attraction for children.
An equally great attraction is the funicular.
On top of the hill are the restored and preserved parts of the fortress, as well as part of the wall and the main gate.
The newest of the churches, the 15th century Church of Ascension, has also been restored to its former glory. The cultural and historical complex Tsari Mali Grad is built on the top of a hill, known as Sveti Spas Mountain, which bears the name of the ancient history, myths and legends of the area.
It is believed that the mountain was part of a larger settlement known as Tsari Mali Grad 'little tsar's (king's) town'.Some interpret the name as 'little Tsarigrad', i.e. Constantinople. This belief stems from the fact that the construction of the walls could be a unique copy of the fortress walls in Constantinople.
The archaeological excavation in the area yielded a number of interesting findings. For example, it was proven that the old Roman fortress had later expanded into a busy fortified settlement with a large religious complex.
The area is popular among the locals because of its spiritual and religious powers and traditions. For centuries it has been used for worship and various sacred rites and observations have taken place here. The remains of ancient Thracian shrines and sanctuaries and early and medieval Christian missions and temples were found here. Some of the latter were literally built on top of each other. Basilicas were transformed into churches, chapels became aisles.
Nowadays the fortress is not only a popular attraction for tourists but also used for concerts, theatre and opera.