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Regional tourist association Stara Planina 9, Opalchenska Street 5300 Gabrovo, Bulgaria tel: +359 66/ 807 137 fax: +359 66/ 809 161 e-mails: |
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The Great Migration of Peoples (5th - 6th century AD) posed a threat on the Eastern Roman Empire - Byzantine. Early Byzantine fortresses were the second shields against Barbarian tribes. Emperor Justinius the Great built or renovated 80 of these, most in Stara Planina.
In the 6th - 8th century AD, the vigorous attacks of Avars, Slavs and Old Bulgarians destroyed many of the Roman fortifications, including Discoduratera, Boruna and Gradat (near Dryanovo).
Gradihste Fortress near Gabrovo is accurately dated as a late-Roman and early-Medieval fortress, with the golden, bronze and copper coins from the time of Emperor Konstantinus I the Great (306 - 337 AD) up to Emperor Justinus II (565 - 578 AD).The 7th century was the time when Slavs and proto - Bulgarians, lead by Khan Asparuh, founded the First Bulgarian State. State power was concentrated in the region of Stara Planina. Slav tribes settled in the plain parts of Sevlievo region, which is proved by the remains of dug-outs and ceramics.
Ruins of many medieval fortresses and settlements from the time of First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms could be seen in the region of Sevlievo, Dryanovo and Teteven. There are more than 30 fortresses, settlements and necropolises on the territory of Gabrovo region. In Teteven region ruins of medieval fortresses could be visited near the villages of Malka Zhelyazna, Gradeshnitsa and Glozhene. In Gradishte locality near Dryanovo one could see the ruins of Sveto Preobrazhenie (Transfiguration) Monastery from 13th century.
The best-preserved Medieval Bulgarian fortress in the region is Hotalich near Sevlievo (10th century). During the archaeological works many massive houses, workshops, churches, fortified walls and turrets of Hotalich (Hotel) Medieval Town have been discovered. The fortress was built on a steep hill above the gorge of Rositsa River. It has played an important strategical role for the defence of the Capital city Turnovo. The fortress existed till the end of 12th century, when its functions took the settlement Selvi - present Sevlievo.South from Sevlievo, near Batoshevo Monastery are the ruins of a big fortress from the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (13th century) The local people call it Kastel or Batoshevsko Kale (Citadel) The medieval bulgarian settlement has been arisen on the ruins of an Early Byzantine fortress from 9th century. A similar fortified settlement from the same period has been erected on the ruins of an ancient fortress near the village of Gostilitsa, Dryanovo region.
The strategical location of Lovech determines its key position in Middle Ages. On the hill Hissar there are ruins of fortifications with turrets, churches, houses and storage - accommodations, dated to 9th - 14th century. The Medieval town has embraced the whole hill and a part of the present Varosha quarter. The name Lovech was first mentioned in 1059 during the campaign of Byzantine Emperor Isaac I Komnin against the tribes of Pechenegs. Arabian traveller Al Idrissi mentioned Lovech In his chronicle in 12th century.The fortress in Lovech has played an important role by the restoration of Bulgarian state system during the time of Dynasty of Asenevtzi. In this fortress in 1187 brothers - boyars Assen and Petar stood a long - lasting siege of the Army of Byzantine Emperor Issac II Angel.
The troops of Emperor Isaac II were defeated at the Tryavna Pass (between Dryanovo and Tryavna). The Emperor himself fled, leaving his royal garments, scepter and crown in the hands of Bulgarians. This was the end of Byzantine threat for Bulgaria. At this spot, the Dryanovo Monastery of St. Mihail the Warrior was erected, to keep the memory of the glorious battles through the centuries.
In Lovech Fortress brothers Petar and Assen constrained the Byzantine Emperor to conclude piece treaty and to recognize the independence of Bulgaria.
Lovech has reached its real vigorous growth in the time of Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In 1331 the governor of Lovech Despot Ivan Alexander become a Tzar (King) of Bulgaria. During Ivan Alexander's 40 - years long governance Bulgaria reached its biggest political mightiness and cultural bloom in 14th century.
Central Stara Planina was a witness of the birth and bloom of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The kin tribes of the boyars Petar and Assen, who lead the struggle against Byzantine rule, used to live in the region of present - day Dryanovo.
From the Medieval period (13th century) is the Church of St Archangel Mihail in Tryavna - a valuable monument of culture. The iconostasis and the Bishop's throne are pure masterpieces of Tryavna Art School of icon painting and woodcarving.
In the centre of Gabrovo is the small chapel, built on the remains of the Medieval Church of St. Petka (1321).
The ruins of the Late Medieval Ottoman fortress could be seen in Tabite locality near Apriltsi.
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