Gods, Tombs, Treasures, Castles
and Legends of Old Bulgaria

An interesting fact about Bulgarian old
architecture is that the castles didn’t exist by
themselves. They were always included within a
stronghold, surrounded by tall walls and
defended by watch towers. The territory of these
strongholds was growing through the years and
they became towns of various sizes and shapes.
Tsarevets

Tsarevets was the main fortress
and the capital of the Second
Bulgarian Kingdom from 1185 to
1393, housing the royal and the
patriarchal palaces.
It was the most secure Bulgarian
castle, as well as the cultural
center of the Kingdom. Nowadays
it is a symbol of Bulgaria.
Baba Vida

Baba Vida is a medieval fortress,
located along the Danube river,
used as a main defensive
installation in northwest Bulgaria
during the Middle Ages.
Baba Vida is said to be the only
entirely preserved medieval castle
in the country and it is a main
tourist attraction.
Belogradchik fortress

The Belogradchik Fortress is an
ancient fortress in northwestern
Bulgaria. Together with the
Belogradchik Rocks, it draws the
main flow of tourists into the
region.
During the 14th century, the
Belogradchik Fortress became one
of the most important fortresses in
the region, second only to the Baba
Vida fortress.
Pliska fortress

Pliska was the capital and main
fortress of the First Bulgarian
Kingdom between 681-893 AD. It
was built right after the
foundation of Bulgaria.
The complex was located south
of the river Danube on over 23
km² and it had a big and a small
palace, a basilica and a citadel.
Preslav fortress

Preslav was the main fortress and
the second capital of the First
Bulgarian Kingdom from 893 to
970. It was the economic,
religious, military, and cultural
center of Bulgaria.
The Preslav fortress was full of
magnificent castles, churches and
monasteries.
Asen’s fortress

Asen's Fortress is a medieval
fortress in the Bulgarian Rhodope
Mountains. The fortress gained
importance in the Middle Ages.
The best preserved and most
notable feature of Asen's Fortress
is the Church of the Holy Mother
of God from the 12th-13th century.
Ovech fortress

Ovech is a stone fortress
located in northeast Bulgaria.
The golden years of Ovech
were in the period of 12th–14th
century.
A 150 m-long bridge structure
is built in front of it connecting
Ovech with the Tabiite Plateau.
Cherven fortress

The fortress of Cherven was one
of the Second Bulgarian Empire's
primary military, administrative,
economic and cultural centers
between the 12th and the 14th
century.
The fortress is located in north
Bulgaria and it is a national
archaeological reserve and a
tourist attraction.
Varna Necropolis

The Varna Necropolis is a
burial site in Varna, Bulgaria,
internationally considered as
one of the key archaeological
sites in world prehistory.
The oldest golden treasure in
the world, dating back from
4,600 BC to 4,200 BC, was
discovered at this site.
Panagyurishte Treasure

The Panagyurishte Treasure is a
Thracian treasure excavated by
accident in 1949. It consists of a
phiale, an amphora and seven
rhytons with total weight of
about 6 kg of 24-karat gold. It is
dated from the 4th-3rd century
BC. The treasure has been
displayed at various museums
around the world.
Valchitran Treasure

The Golden Valchitran
Treasure was found in 1925
in Northern Bulgaria. It
consists of 13 vessels with
cult function, and total
weight of 12.5 kg. The
scientists dated the treasure
back to 1300 BC, at the time
of the Thracians.
Rogozen Treasure

The Rogozen Thracian
Treasure consists of 165
silver vessels with a total
weight of more than 20 kg.
Multiple mythological
scenes are presented on the
vessels. It is believed that
the treasure dates back to
the 4th century BC.
Lukovit Treasure

The Lukovit Thracian Treasure
was found in 1953. About 200
objects were collected in a
large, ritually buried ceramic
vessel. Those were vessels and
elements of horse accessories
made of silver, silver with
golden decorations and iron.
The treasure is dated from the
4th century BC.
Borovo Treasure

A golden treasure consisting
of five vessels – a silver plate
with golden decorations, a
silver jug with Dionysus and
three rhytons - was found in
1974 near Borovo, Northern
Bulgaria. The Thracian
treasure dates back to the 4th
century BC.
Thracian tomb of Kazanlak

The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak is a
tomb with remarkable frescoes. The
monument dates back to the 4th
century BC and it is protected by
UNESCO. The tomb is situated near
the ancient Thracian capital of
Seuthopolis in a region where more
than a thousand tombs of kings and
members of the Thracian aristocracy
can be found.
Thracian tomb of Sveshtari

The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is
a 3rd century BC tomb, situated in
the northeast of Bulgaria. The
tomb's architectural decor is
considered to be unique. The
murals, the decorations and the
ten female figures carved on the
walls of the central chamber are
significant.
Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo

The Aleksandrovo tomb is a
Thracian tomb excavated in
Southeastern Bulgaria, dated
back to the 4th century BC. Both
the antechamber and main
chamber are decorated with
well-preserved frescoes. The
wall paintings show the change
in their appearance due to the
Greek influence.
The tomb of Seuthes III

The Tomb of Seuthes III is located
in the Golyama Kosmatka Mound
in Central Bulgaria. It was built in
the 5th Century BC. The tomb has
an impressive facade, an unusual
13-meter long entry corridor and
three consecutive spacious rooms.
The King of the Odrysian Kingdom
of Thrace, Seuthes III, was buried
inside together with his horse.
Religion of the Thracians

Thracians were a group of IndoEuropean tribes inhabiting a large
area in Southeastern Europe around
the 5th century BC. Their religion was
polytheistic. Thracians developed
cult of the forces of the Nature. They
believed in the immortality of the
soul and built solid tombs around
the Balkans. They worshipped some
of the Greek gods but also the
specific Thracian horseman.
Gods of the Thracians

 Thracian Horseman was the main Thracian god.
 Bassareus was the god of grape harvest, winemaking
and wine and ritual madness.
 Bendis was the Thracian goddess of the moon and
hunt.
 Derzelas was the god of abundance and the
underworld, health and human spirit's vitality.
Religion of the Slavs

Slavs were tribes which moved
from Eastern Europe to the Balkans
around the 6th century AD. Their
religion was a pagan polytheistic
religion. It inherited the ancient
belief system of the great IndoEuropeans and it preserved many
similarities such as the belief in life
after death, the cult of death and
the cult of the ancestors.
Gods of the Slavs

 Perun was the highest god of the Slavic pantheon
and the god of thunder and lightning.
 Dazhdbog was the god of fertility, abundance and
the Sun.
 Svarog was the Slavic god of fire and blacksmithing.
 Lada was the goddess of harmony, joy, youth, love
and beauty.
Religion of the Proto-Bulgarians

Proto-Bulgarians were a group of
nomadic tribes coming from Central
Asia which penetrated in Europe in
the 4th century AD. Proto-Bulgarians
believed in totemism and sacrifice.
They had a specific calendar based
on the moon’s cycle. Their religion
was a pagan religion but with the
strong presence of the main god
Tangra. Other gods were
worshipped as well.
Gods of the Proto-Bulgarians

It is still arguable if the Proto-Bulgarians had a monotheistic
or a polytheistic religion, as they mostly worshipped only
one god – Tangra. Although, they believed in some other
gods and great powers.
 Tangra was the main Proto-Bulgarian god.
 The mother-goddess was Umai.
Legend of Baba Vida

The building of Baba Vida is tied to a
legend, according to which a
Bulgarian king who ruled at Vidin
had three daughters: Vida, Kula and
Gamza. Prior to his death, he divided
his kingdom among the three.
Although Gamza and Kula married
to drunkard and aggressive men,
Vida remained unmarried and built
the fortress in her city. The name of
the castle means "Granny Vida"
Legend of Trapezitsa

Trapezitsa was a fortress near
Tsarevets. A legend says that the
royal mint was built in Trapezitsa.
Under the mint, underground,
there was a big dungeon in which
the royal treasure was kept. The
entrance was covered with stone
slabs. Stairs led to an iron door.
Only the king and the guardian of
the treasury knew about the
entrance…
Legend of Trapezitsa

… When the Ottomans invasion,
the king ordered everything to
be transferred into the dungeon.
Machines for cutting money, raw
gold and gold and silver coins.
The full treasury was closed. The
king ordered the mint to be
collapsed. Only its ruins left.
The entrance was under a
specific big stone. Only the king
knew the secret of the stone.
Legend of the cape Kaliakra

Probably the most popular legend
about the place is the one about 40
Bulgarian girls, who preferred to
tie their hair together and jump
into the Black Sea rather than face
the prospect of being captured by
the Ottomans.
An obelisk dedicated to this
legend is placed at the entrance to
the cape.
Legend of the Holy 40 Martyrs Church

The Holy 40 Martyrs Church is
located in Veliko Tarnovo and it is the
place where famous Bulgarian kings
were buried. A legend says that after
the Ottoman Invasion in the 14th
century, the church was turned into a
mosque. They built a minaret, but one
night it somehow collapsed.
Each time they tried to rebuild the
minaret, it would collapse, because
the great Christian Bulgarian kings
wouldn’t allow to rest in a mosque.
