Ustra Fortress

The medieval fortress of Ustra is located 5 km northeast of the village of Ustra and 3 km south of the village of Lebed, at an altitude of 1114 m. The Byzantine chronicler George Acropolit wrote about the fortress in his work "History" in connection with the events of the Bulgarian-Byzantine war of 1254-1255.

The area of the fortress is approximately 1300 square meters. The defensive fortress wall is partially built, preserved in places up to 8 m high, and the cliffs in the rest of the fortress did not need to be fortified. The construction of the fortress wall is typical for the construction of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - the stones are well worked and white mortar is used for soldering. The defensive capabilities of the wall were reinforced by three towers: two rectangular and one semicircular, which were three-storeyed. The underground floors were plastered with mortar plaster, obtained by mixing mortar with crushed brick and large pieces of pottery. They served as water reservoirs.

Movement between the floors of the towers was by internal stone stairs. Those entering the fortress had to walk the entire distance in front of the wall and towers to reach the entrance, of which seven steps carved into the solid rock survive. The foundations of a building used to guard the entrance have also been discovered near the entrance.

Eight rooms were found in the fort, built side by side. They were multi-storeyed, with the ground floor serving as a storehouse or water reservoir and the upper floors being inhabited. Numerous iron, bronze and silver objects were found during the excavations of the fortress. Of interest is the discovery of 71 iron arrows, parts of helmets, axes, bronze and silver crosses, etc. The 14 clay vessels and collective finds of copper coins testify to the intense life in the fortress during the Second Bulgarian State.

Categories

• Historical landmarks

Features

• Instagrammable
• Free parking
• Mountain view
• For kids