The Asen’s Fortress is the most interesting and the longest surviving cultural monument in Asenovgrad – lasting from the Iron Age to the beginning of the fifteenth century. The fortress is built on the inaccessible rock at the beginning of the passage which connects Thrace to the Aegean Sea. It can only be reached from the southwest and so a fortress wall was built there, later fitted out with battlements. In the west at the foot of the rock passes the strategically important road. There a tall trapezoid defensive tower was build. Now the Asen’s Fortress has been well explored. The walls and other fortifying defences have been partially restored and preserved. The only well preserved building here is the church „Sveta Bogoroditsa Petrichka “. Due to its picturesque location, elegance and level of preservation, it has been recognized as a cultural monument of national importance.

"St. Nicholas"

In our century “St. Visarion Smolenski” Cathedral in the town of Smolyan can be deservedly referred to as a true spiritual centre of the Bulgarian national traits and the Christian faith in the region of the Rhodope mountain. This cathedral is the second lafgest in Bulgaria after the “St. Alexander Nevski” Cathedral in Sifia. The patron of the temple is the last bishop of Smoyan and the Rhodope mountains – the holy martyr Visarion, who fell victim in the name of Christ in 1670 during the first forced conversion to Mohammedanism in that region. The Cathedral complex includes also an interior chapel “St. Theodor Tiron”, a crypt, a library, a Sunday school, a church shop and a small house attached to the cathedral. There are 11 bells, the largest of which weighing 2 tons, resounding throughout the town every morning and every evening.

The Agush Konak* is the largest Revival Period architectural complex in the Balkan Peninsula that has survived and covers an area of three thousand square meters. (*The aga was an Ottoman feudal lord and the konak was his residence. This residence belonged to the Aga Agush.) The structure is in the traditional style of houses in the Rodopi Mountain area: it has numerous windows and doors; the basement is made from stone; and it is cosy because of its eves, parlours, and internal yards. The region’s sloping terrain creates the conditions for the unique and picturesque appearance of the architecture. This combines richly ornamented façades crowned by single or double decorated chimneys from stone and an impressive tower for living in. The complex was built for the local feudal lord Salih Agush Aga by three Bulgarian master builders between the years 1790-1842. It is characterized by large volumes, a complex architectural design structure and the special interior design, which reflects the political and economic status of the owner. The three dimensional papier-mâché model of Agush Konak gives the incredible possibility of travelling back in time to the era of the Bulgarian Revival when clever builders and craftsmen created the masterpieces of the national architectural heritage.

Clock Tower in Tryavna

One of the most remarkable natural phenomena in Bulgaria is the Belogradchik rock formations situated near the western slopes of Stara Planina. They form a strip which is 30 kilometers long and 3 km to 6 km wide, and consist of three rock groups: Falkovska group, Central group and Zbegovska group and had been formed more than 230 million years ago. The most splendid rock formations in the Central group are located near the city – “the Madonna”, “the Monks”, “the Horseman”, “the Student Girl”, “the Bear”, “the Shepherd Boy”, “Adam and Eve “, “the Mushrooms”, “Bendida”, “Orpheus” and “the Petrified Wedding” and many others. The Great red rocks look like giant sculpture figures, mythical creatures and people, terrestrial and unknown kinds of beasts and birds. They look stunning and breathtaking to anyone who is irresistibly attracted to the magic of nature, which has been patiently modeling for centuries the red sandstone in order to achieve this unique perfection. Belogradchik rock formations were declared a natural monument in 1949 and were included in the one hundred national tourist sites list. The most significant monument of culture in Belogradchik is the Belogradchik Fortress. It was built among the inapproachable rocks as an ancient Thracian sanctuary before the formation of the Bulgarian state about I - III century. The Belogradchik Fortress was declared a cultural monument of national importance in 1985 and was made available for tourist visits.

Shabla Lighthouse is the oldest one on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast with the highest tower rising to 32 meters over the surrounding area. This is the lighthouse in Bulgaria with the most interesting history and the most original architecture. Officially it began to work on the 15 (27) of July 1857. The foundation is a square with a width of 8.80 meters, a height of 10 meters and with a thickness of the walls 1,50 meters. The wall thickness gains 3 meters at the section of the pillars which holds vault arches. The central cupola is held by four smaller cupolas. The height of the central cupola is 7,80 meters from the floor to its highest point. It supports a 17 meters high octagonal tower on which the light section with the optics is based. The lightning-conductor is very interesting, because it is the highest point of the Lighthouse. Its shape is a half-moon with a star, which upper beam is prolonged and gold-plated at the end.

MEDIEVAL CASTLE PERNIK Referring to the archeological materials, settlers on the hill near Pernik – known as the “Krakra” hill, appeared around the middle of the 6th millennium BC. This Thracian castle is one of the most prominent ones within the Bulgarian lands, attested by archeological evidences. The Pernik castle acquired international reputation during the time when the theatre of war between Bulgaria and Byzantium was transferred to the western Bulgarian territories. The Byzantine chronist Skilica has described the battles of the Bulgarians led by the governor of Pernik castle – Krakra against the Byzantine emperor Vasili II. The castle stood the fierce sieges during the year 1004 and 1016. They have been telling legends and singing songs about the invincible chieftain Krakra to these days too.

The palace of the Bulgarian kings is situated at the most comfortable place on the Tsarevets hill. The main entrance is to the north. Its area is 4872 sq. m. It is fortified with a thick fortress wall with five battle towers and two entrances. The palace buildings are shaped around wide internal yard. The throne and guest rooms are located in the west part of the yard. The living and administrative sectors are to the east, and below them – huge wine-cellars are fit in the ground. The kitchen premises and dining room are in the south-west part and to the north – guard barracks. The St. Petka church has been erected in the middle of the yard, where some of the Tarnovo kings have been buried. Water has been supplied via reservoir, filled by underground water source. The family castle of the brothers Asen and Petar has been erected at the place of the palace before. After the proclamation of Tarnovo for a capital of the Second Bulgarian State, the castle has been used as a palace of the Bulgarian kings for two hundred years. The capital falls in the Turkish hands in 1393 after three months siege. The palace has been pillaged, burned down and ruined. The first digs here are dated as far back as 1884, but the palace is entirely explored in the period of 1950 to 1962.

The unique remains from Kula Fortress (Kastra Martis) is situated in the center of today’s city of Kula 52 km southwest from the city of Vidin. The fortress cane into being as a Roman castle during III-IV century after Christ and it was important unit from the Danube defense system. During Second Bulgarian State the fortress had been restored and turned into powerful feudal castle. And thus became one of the southern defenses of Vidin despotships. Kula had been taken and destroyed with the fall of the Vidin kingdom under Ottoman power in 1396. With respect to architecture Kastra Martis is a square-shaped fortress with small sizes and powerful towers in corners. It is raised on small-scale area - about 2000 square meters. The forms of the four round corner towers made strong impression. Their external diameter is 12,5 m. One of the towers which is preserved nowadays rising on 16 m. allows us to get the idea how looked the other towers. The fortress wall with falling door, 2 m. thick walls rising on 10-12 m. and ending with a path made of pinnacles used by the warriors and defenders in get from one tower to another, represent the excellent construction technologies and original architecture use for the construction of this exceptionally beautiful fortress.

This is the earliest building made of stone – block construction situated in the first Bulgarian capital – Pliska. The whole castle have been built up according to the surrounding terrain on an artificial platform leaned by huge stone arches. By its size the area amounts to 4700 square meters approximately as much as the surface of the king’s palace Tsarevets. The thickness of the walls at the base is more than 2 meters. The richest and the most gorgeous was the throne-room situated on the second floor of the palace as it could have been reached by a wide parade staircase intended mostly for the exquisite guests of the palace. In front of the central entrance there have been a vast square place used for important state events. It could have been reached by a wide alley from the east gate of the city. From the palace through its basements embarked plenty of secret tunnels in different directions and some of them can be seen in these days too.

The archeologists are still not unified about the time when was built this beautiful building that can be pride to any Greek or Roman city. Most probably, it is dated at the end of Helenistic or the very beginning of the Roman age in what is today Bulgaria. However, there is no doubt, that the temple-mausoleum was erected by order of the Thracian leaders. The monumental sanctuary near Tatul, found by the archeologists, can certainly be related to the cult to the legendary hero. In support was the finding in 2005 of magnificent bronze statuette, dated to II c. and representing a naked god. One of his hands lays on a lyre and in the other he holds a plector – the feather for pulling the strings of the musical instrument. It can be claimed, quite certain, that this is an image of Orpheus himself.

The Central Sofia Synagogue which impressive building soon shall celebrate its 100 years anniversary, is rising just behind the building of Sofia Central Covered Market Hall, situated in one of the so called “Faith tolerance triangle” angles, which includes also the Banja Bashi Mosque and St. Nedelya Cathedral. Sofia Synagogue is called “Central” because in past years in Sofia there were several synagogues, which served the spiritual needs of Jewish community, numbering at the beginning of XXth century about 10 000 people. The Synagogue was established for the incredibly short period of 4 years (1905-1909) after the architectural design of Austrian-Hungarian architect Fridrich Gunanger. The financial resources for the construction were funded by the Jewish Religious Council and by voluntary donations. The Synagogue’s grand prayer hall together with the galleries could seat 1200 people and already at that time the building was equipped with its own heating installation and underground sewage.

St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church has become the landmark of the Sofia city silhouette. Its shining gilded domes and its belfry which is some 53 m high are seen from all points of approach to the city. The church was built on the basis of a decision of the Constituent National Assembly of 1879, to the memory of the glorious dead in the War of Liberation and was dedicated to the Great Russian General and statesman Alexander Nevsky, after whom it was named. There is an exhibition in the basement of the church, opened in 1965. Today this exhibition has been reconstructed as a Branch of Old Bulgarian Art of the National Art Gallery. Some of the most precious icons – specimens of Bulgarian mediaeval art are included in it. Two of the most valuable monuments of the XIII-XIV centuries are exhibited here.

During the 60s of XX-th c. in the process of some construction digging, an ancient wall was uncovered. After that archeologists came and unearthed the remains of a big Mediaeval church and the foundations of many other buildings. It was during the 80s when a team of archeologists, a member of which was prof. Nicolay Ovcharov, resumed the research of the site. After a period of restoration, in 2000, the St. John the Precursor church opened it’s doors for visitors again. Three of the walls have survived ­ the whole of the southern wall and some parts of the eastern and the western walls. 15.50 BGL with DVD included.

This is one of the most beautiful buildings in respect of architecture, built in the time, which the historians define as a Gold Age in Bulgarian history. During the time of Tsar Simeon (893–927) Veliki Preslav was proclaimed for royal residence and for capital of Bulgaria. With its magnificence and beauty the city could compete even with Konstantinopol. Against all that glory, the Golden (round) Church outlined with its uniqueness. The place for its construction was also deliberately chosen – the Church was built on a height, above Ticha River, not far from the palace of the Bulgarian kings and the Inner City.

At the farest south parts of Sakar mountains near the village of Matochina (in Haskovo region), situated on the left bank of Tundja River, there are rising above the impressive remains of the medieval sentry fortress Bukelon. The fortress is built at the beginning of XIV century as an original barrier, guarding the way to Odrin. The letter “M”, which is read in the brick monogram, graved aside from the arch over the entrance, suggests that the Bulgarian Tsar Mihail Shishman (1323–1330) erected the fortress. According to one message, dated from 1664, the fortress near the village of Matochina was completed abandoned.

The architecture ensamble “Aleksandrovi kashti” – because of its project and applied construction technology – is one of the dominant positions in the architectural reserve in Zlatograd (the biggest among the Rhodope cities). “Aleksandrovite kashti” consist of two buildings: first was build in middle of ХІХ cen., and second one – a few decades later.

The “Sheriff Halil Pasha” Mosque or so-called Tombul Mosque is the biggest one in Bulgaria and second size on the Balkan Peninsula. It was called The Tombul Mosque because of the form of its dome. The prayer-hall of the temple is not big, but its form is quite interesting. Its base is a square, its middle part is an octagon and its top is a circle. Today the Tombul Mosque is not only a temple but also a cultural monument.

During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, Tzarevetz was the main fortress of the capital. Erected on inaccessible crags, girded with the meanders of Yantra River, it was the most solidly fortified part of Turnovo. The entrance to it passed through a high rocky isthmus, fortified with three successive gates, then the Frenkhisarska Gate followed, connecting the fortress with the traders’ quarter, the Small (Assenova) Gate, connecting Tzarevetz with the "New Town" and Trapezitza, and the high street passed through all entrances and the entire fortress. There were also convenient approaches to the royal palace and the Patriarchate.

As a monument of Bulgarian Renaissanse culture and architecture the Troyan moinastery takes 3-th place. It is known above all for the creative work of Zahari Zograph who painted both the exterior and the interior (a rare practice for the time) of the main church built in 1835, 10 km from the town of Troyan. It is a fine example of the impact of the popular conception of the world and the influence of housing architecture on religious construction.

This is the most famous monument of Bulgarian Renaissance culture and architecture. It is situated 120 km from Sofia in the Rila Mountain. Its establishing is related to the life an activity of the hermit Ivan Rilski. The information for it dates from the middle XIV century. Many times devastated and burned, the monastery was “resurrected” again and again and achieved its own autonomy. This independence made it into a center of Bulgarian education and learning. Even Paisiy Hilendarski studied there.

The town of Cherven was founded by Petur Delyan and was one of the largest towns in this country during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In the XII to the XIV century, it was an important political and economic centre with well developed crafts and famous builders. The town consisted of a castle, inner town (citadel), outer town and separate suburbs, scattered on the neighboring hills. A draw-bridge connected the citadel with the lower town. According to its dimensions (60х30 m), the castle is the second biggest castle after the palace of Tzarevetz.

Upon the Thracian settlement of the Tribals, the Romans built the Bononia Fortress in the system of the Danube limes. Destroyed by Huns and Avars (V-VI century), Bononia was re-built under Justinian (VI century). The Slavs renamed the settlement Bdin, a name preserved during the Middle Ages.