Fortress

Only a short drive west of Varna you can find one of the oldest forts of Bulgaria, the Ovech Fortress. Located on a plateau overlooking the city of Provadia it provides you with a beautiful view of the surrounding area, and if you are lucky enough to witness a sunset it is simply stunning.

It’s precise origins have been lost to history. As far as I was able to find out, it was build somewhere in the 3rd century by the Thracians, after which it changed ownership quite frequently.

This fort has seen it all… It remembers the time of Peter IV and Kaloyan, the movement led by Ivailo and the knights of Amedeus IV of Savoy. It also remembers the Ottoman invasion, the uprising of the Tsar’s sons, Constantine and Frujin, and the march of the Polish-Hungarian king Wladyslaw III Jagiello. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, this fortress and it’s city were even one of the most important economic, administrative, military and cultural centers of the entire region.

There are two ways you can go up to the plateau, there is a metal spiral staircase on the side of the city of Provadia, or you can come by car and park around the back of the plateau where you can climb one of the original stairs hewn in the side of the mountain. There is a handrail but the steps are very slippery when wet, please be careful when you go up there.

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