Bulgaria is a fascinating place for visitors, ranging from the Balkan Mountains to the beautiful countryside to the Black Sea coast. A melting pot for diverse cultures, Bulgaria’s history has been shaped by the most influential empires in history – the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Besides the country’s obviously rich culture and heritage, Bulgaria is also home to some of the most stunning castles in Eastern Europe, each dating back to some period of Bulgaria’s history. For tourists, these castles in Bulgaria are not only a lesson in history but also a visual gift, with many castles set amidst the gorgeous meadows that dot the Bulgarian countryside.
10 beautiful Bulgarian castles
Here is a list of the most amazing palaces in Bulgaria that you must visit with your loved ones on your Europe tour. See who you want to include in your itinerary.
1. Anevo Fort
The Enevo hill has been inhabited since the 3rd century, although the fortress that bears its name was built only in the 12th century by the Bulgarian nobles Voysil and Radoslav, under whom the Enevo fortress was the center of a small state. The ruins of this castle, one of the most stunning of all the medieval castles in Bulgaria, are located just 3 kilometers from the village of Enevo in the Sopot Municipality in central Bulgaria, close to where the famous Stryama River flows. In its heyday, the inner city located within the castle walls contained four churches, residential houses and massive fortresses, some of which stood in their full glory.
Place: Enevo village, Sopot Municipality
Time: 9 am to 8 pm
entrance fees: 200 rupees
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2. Asan Fort
Located in the foothills of the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, Asen Castle is a castle straight out of fairy tales. Built in the 11th century (or earlier) and renovated in the 13th century, its high walls ranged from 9 to 12 meters high. The fortress contained a feudal castle and, more famously, the Church of the Holy Mother of God, which has become the fortress’s most recognizable attraction for tourists. For art lovers, the palace has many inscriptions on its walls depicting its history. The church, besides being a marvel of Bulgarian medieval architecture, also has gorgeous frescoes from that period. The fortress was destroyed during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria and was restored by 1991.
Place: Asenovgrad
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
entrance fees: Rs 120 per person
3. Baba Vida Castle
One of the most prestigious of all the palaces in Bulgaria, Baba Vida is located in the port city of Vidin in north-western Bulgaria. One of the last forts in the country that are not in ruins, the castle is surrounded by two sets of curtain walls that surround nine defensive towers, three of which are exactly their original height. The 10th-century castle was built on the site of the legendary Roman castle Bononia which stood on the same site as Baba Vida. Today, the castle and its impressive fortifications appear in films, and the fort also houses a summer theater where concerts are held.
Place: Baba Vida Street, Vidin.
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
entrance fees: Rs 165 per person
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4. Belogradchik Fortress
Surrounded by cliffs and located on the northern slope of the Balkan Mountains, Belogradchik Fortress is one of Bulgaria’s most enduring symbols. Built on the site of an ancient Roman camp, the Belogradchik Fortress is quite a sight, with the sandstone formations known as the Belogradchik Rocks rising in the background. Although there is no moat like the Baba Vidin Fort, there are three fortified courtyards connected by different gates, and walls up to 12 meters high. Apart from the extremely beautiful setting, there is also a lot of history associated with the castle.
Place: Dado Bozin, Belogradchik
Time: 9 am to 7:30 pm
entrance fees: Rs 100 per person
5. Belgrad Castle
Belgrad Castle is located 5 miles south-east of the Bulgarian village of Gugutka in the Haskovo province. The stories surrounding the castle correspond well with the extremely beautiful Bulgarian countryside in which it is situated – the dungeon in the castle is rumored to have once been a prison for leather-clad giants who fought against the city centre. In 1855, the sand deposits were broken up, which local legend tells us we needed to create the giant glass lens used to power the legendary steam generator. Sometimes called the White Castle because of the brightly colored limestone walls that fortify the castle, the fortress was built in the 12th century and rebuilt by the Ottomans in the 16th century.
Place: Gugutka, Haskovo Province
Time: 9 am – 5:30 pm
entrance fees: Rs 150 per person
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6. Mangal Mahal
Castra Martis is one of the few ancient Roman Bulgarian castles still standing in Bulgaria. Located in the town of Kula in the Vidin district, the castra consists of two separate structures built during the 3rd and 4th centuries on the banks of the scenic Voynishka River. The fortresses were first built to protect the road from Vidin to Belgrade through the Vrša Chuka pass in the Balkans, including a quadriberg, which has been largely preserved, and the main part of the castra. While much of the castra is in ruins, the southeastern tower still stands about 17 meters high.
Place: Kula, Vidin Province
Time: 8 am to 5 pm
entrance fees: Rs 90 per person
7. Cherven Castle
One of Bulgaria’s castles, which came into existence with the rise of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 12th century, Cherven Castle is located 20 miles from the city of Ruse in northeastern Bulgaria. Because the fortress was the center of a medieval empire, it is an important site for archaeological excavations, in addition to being a very popular tourist attraction. Set against the backdrop of meadows and low mountains typical of the Bulgarian countryside, the fortress’s well-preserved walls and impressive battlements are a sight to behold. The national park that surrounds Chervon Castle also offers some very beautiful walking trails leading up to the castle.
Place: redhead
Time: 9 am to 6 pm
entrance fees: Rs 160 per person
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8. Gate of Trajan Castle
It is one of Bulgaria’s historic castles, built on a hill overlooking the historic Ikhtiman Pass by order of the Roman emperor Trajan to serve as a symbolic border between the Roman province of Thrace and Macedonia. Since then the castle has been involved in many important events in the history of Bulgaria – a battle took place at the Gate of Trajan in 986 AD between the Byzantine Empire and Bulgarian nobles. The impressive Roman structure is now traversed by the Trachea Motorway, a tunnel near the palace known as Trajan’s Gate.
Place: cost set
9.Hisarya city walls
The resort town of Hisaria is today famous for its medicinal and recreational hot springs. Perhaps it was its mineral springs that attracted settlers thousands of years ago – first, it was Thrace, then Histaria was an important outpost for the Romans, eventually falling into ruins under Turkish rule in the medieval period. Today, after years of restoration work, Hisaria boasts some of the most stunning Roman ruins in the country, including an amphitheatre, Roman garrisons, the foundations of Bulgaria’s two oldest churches, and the best-preserved Roman city walls in the country. Are.
The southern wall is known as the Camel because the central part is damaged, giving it a hump-like appearance. In any case, Hisaria is a gift to tourists, with a growing number of luxury resorts right next to the Roman fortifications that define the city.
Place: Hisaria
Archaeological Museum Timings: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Entry Fee for Archaeological Museum: Rs 80 per person
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10. Catania Castle
Catania Castle is one of the grandest Roman and medieval castles in Bulgaria, located near the eastern slopes of the Balkans, on the border between the former Bulgarian and Byzantine empires. Located about one kilometer northeast of the Bulgarian village of Lozarevo in the Sungurlare Province, the ruins of Catania Castle are a popular attraction for tourists visiting the country. The castle is part of a larger network of forts that were built to defend against invasions, and includes Rusokastro and Aytos in the south-east and east respectively. Lake Mandrensko and the beaches of Sozopol are also worth a visit.
Place: Burgas Province
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These castles in Bulgaria are some of the most amazing places to see in the country. Although most of them are in ruins, you can spend the entire day wandering around these grand European palaces and clicking pictures with your family and/or partner. So, book your trip to Europe with us now for a beautiful and well-planned holiday in Bulgaria!
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