Location: 35 km South of Rousse Map
Constructed: 11th century
Cherven Castle is a Bulgarian medieval citadel located 35 km South of Rousse. Cherven Castle or Red Castle in Bulgarian was constructed in the 11th through 14th century. It replaced Byzantine fortification that was erected here in the 6th century to defend the Empire against invasions of Germanic barbarian tribes. The city and its fortifications reached particular importance during Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In 1235 Cherven becomes the seat of Bulgarian Orthodox Bishopric of Cherven. Besides the Inner Fortifications the city spread all over the mountain top and even beyond the city walls. Its doom came then it was captured by the Turkish troops in 1388 as Ottoman Empire slowly overtook much of the Balkan peninsula. Under new rule it lost its importance and gradually fell in disrepair.
There was an early Byzantine fortress in Cherven
from the 6th century. After 1018, when Bulgaria was finally included
in the Byzantine Empire, the early Byzantine fortifications on
Cherven Hill attracted the attention of the new rulers. The
surviving fortress walls were repaired and adapted to fortification
requirements. In the history of Cherven during the Second Bulgarian
Kingdom there was both a rise and a decline. In 1230 there was a
strong earthquake, which caused damage throughout Eastern Europe,
and in Cherven, it caused fire and large-scale destruction. . In
1235 the town became the seat of the Medieval Bulgarian
Metropolitanate of Cherven. It is known that in the spring of 1242
part of the retreating Tatar army passed along the valley of the
river Rusenski Lom, leaving behind a general destruction. In the
13th century, according to Manuel Phil, the Byzantine military
leader Michael the Head Tarkhaniot captured the city in a campaign
against Tsar Ivailo.
In the 14th century the territory of the
town exceeded 1.8 km², with a well-defined infrastructure, including
a fortified town, situated on a vast rocky hill along the river
Cherni Lom. A number of crafts have been developed: iron mining,
iron processing, goldsmithing, construction, arts, household and
other crafts, which makes it an important commercial center. At the
end of the 14th century, together with the other Bulgarian lands, it
fell under Ottoman rule and was devastated. Legends and some
historical sources indicate that many of the inhabitants of the
large and prosperous city in the Middle Ages migrated to the
settlement, known in Roman times as Sexaginta Prista, during the
Ottoman rule - Ruschuk, and today - the city of Ruse.
Cherven
is the subject of increased interest from both archaeologists and
tourists. The first excavations are from 1910/1911 (Prof. Vasil
Zlatarski). From 1961, permanent excavations began, which continue
to this day. As a result of the archeological excavations were
found:
large feudal palace;
fortress walls;
two
underground water supply facilities;
16 churches;
public-administrative buildings;
remains of residential
buildings;
workshops;
streets.
A fortress tower from
the 14th century is completely preserved. Finds from Cherven are
stored in the National History Museum in Sofia, the National
Archaeological Museum in Sofia and the Regional History Museum in
Ruse. Among them stand out several large treasures, including
jewelry, epigraphic monuments, pottery, household items and more.
Cherven has been declared a National Archaeological Reserve and is
one of the most important tourist sites with built infrastructure in
the country.
The fortress tower of the medieval Cherven was
used as an image in the last series of the fifth season of the Game
of Thrones series.