Description of the attraction
The ruins of the ancient fortress of Hisarya are the main attraction of the city of the same name - one of the oldest Bulgarian cities, which arose on the site of the ancient settlement of Diocletianopolis, an ancient Thracian settlement and a monastery of the Romans.
The fortress is located on the Hisarya hill, its two terraces, from where a picturesque view opens. The ruins, recognized as the most visited attraction in the area, were declared an architectural monument of national importance in 1967.
Hissarya Hill was inhabited by people as early as the 4th-3rd century BC. in the Neolithic era. During archaeological excavations, the remains of dwellings, fragments of ancient ceramics, as well as a gold applique were found here.
The fortress was erected in the Roman era, its location was not chosen by chance - for strategic reasons, fortified defensive structures were built on elevations. Hisar fortress was surrounded by steep hillsides, in addition, a river flowed below, all this created an effective natural defense. In addition to this, the Romans erected a high and powerful stone wall.
The fortress walls are quite well preserved to this day, they perfectly demonstrate the Roman architectural tradition. The length of the preserved fortress wall is about 2200 meters, in some places up to 11 meters in height. The Hisarya fortress had the shape of a rectangle with towers in each corner and four gates (the southern - main - and western gates have survived to this day).
Not far from the fortress, a famous cultural monument, the Hisar tomb, has been preserved. It is a Roman family crypt decorated with paintings and mosaics dating back to the 4th century. Also, during the excavations, the remains of seven churches were found, built in three architectural styles. The largest and oldest (5-6 century) of them is located at the highest point of the hill. Archaeologists have discovered in this area a lot of jewelry, ceramics, tools, household items, as well as two hoards with silver coins.
The main historical role of the Hisarya fortress is that it was here that a peace treaty was signed between Bulgaria and Byzantium, as a result of which the Bulgarian state gained independence.
Today, on the territory of the fortress, on the site of an ancient church, a large metal cross has been erected, which can be seen from almost any part of the city.
