Tsarevets - Reinforcement system

The fortification system of the medieval fortress of Tsarevgrad Tarnov is complex. It consists of encircling walls encircling the entire hill and other transverse ones descending perpendicularly to the river. The fortress wall along the rock ridge of Tsarevets, 2.4 m thick, and in some places reaching 3.6 m, has battlements and towers. It was studied mainly from 1958 to 1963. It was established that three periods existed in its construction:

first - relating to the early Byzantine era with the earliest constructions dating to the beginning of the 5th-6th centuries;
second - towards the first half of the 12th century, significantly before 1185;
third - probably towards the 13th century, since during the period of the Second Bulgarian State, the encircling fortress wall underwent frequent repairs and extensions, which constantly transformed it.

During archaeological excavations in 1977-1978 in Assenov district around the church of St. "Forty Martyrs" a fortress wall was opened along the river, 2.7 m thick, with battle towers to the Yantra and a well tower.

The fortress on Tsarevets Hill could be entered through three entrances:

The main entrance occupied the westernmost part of the hill. It was built on a narrow rock massif, purposely cut to create an additional security facility. Although naturally difficult to access, the entrance was provided with five successive gates:

In front of the first gate over the "Cut Rock" there was a wooden drawbridge, preserved until 1864, and a battle tower above the gate. It was rebuilt without the tower in 1932-1934 according to the project of arch. Alexander Rashenov.

The second gate is located 32 m after the first, where the foundations of 2 quadrangular towers were found, preserved until 1910. The southern tower is external to the curtain, and the northern one is internal.

The third gate is located 29 m after the second, and it was defended by a rectangular tower to the south of it. In a later construction stage, an additional northern abutment was added for better protection.

The fourth gate of the main entrance stood 37 m after the third and existed until 1889. It was built on the foundations of an older gate of the fortress wall from the 1st-6th centuries. The fourth gate was restored in 1971.

The fifth gate was located 25 m from the fourth, and it was built between a small inner rectangular tower to the south and a large inner fortification to the north. The inner fortification extended north of the road between the fourth and fifth gates and was solidly protected by ramparts up to 3.5 m thick.

The second entrance to the fortress is the Small Gate (Asenova), located on the northwestern fortress wall. Through it, the connection between Tsarevets, "Trapezitsa" and "New Town" was carried out. A two-story tower rose above the Small Gate. The door was double-winged, wooden, studded with large iron nails. The small gate and the tower above it were restored in 1975.

The third entrance, the so-called Frankhisar Gate, was located north of the southeast battle tower. It served as a connection to the Frankish quarter, to which a 2.5-meter-wide road led, preserved until 1910. At the southeastern end of the Tsarevets fortress (the most accessible place on the hill) there was a battle tower guarding the Frankhisar gate and a large reservoir next to the .Yantra. This tower is associated with the name of the Latin emperor Baldwin, captured in the Battle of Edirne in 1205 by King Kaloyan. It is known as Baldwin's tower, it was restored in 1933 according to the project of architect Alexander Rashenov in the likeness of a preserved medieval tower from the Cherven fortress, located near Ruse.

ARCHITECTURAL AND MUSEUM RESERVE TSAREVETS | CITY OF VELIKO TARNOVO

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Fortification system