CASTLES VELIKO TŬRNOVO

Hisarlaka Fortress overlooks the town of Kyustendil from a hilltop 2 kilometres to its southeast, occupying an irregular polygonal area of approximately 2,000 square metres following the terrain's natural contours. Originally constructed by Romans around 400 AD, the fortress served as a major administrative and religious centre throughout the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms before suffering partial destruction by Ottoman forces in the 15th century. The substantial defensive structure measures 117 by 175 metres and features 14 towers of varying shapes—round, triangular, and rectangular—along with two gates and five barbicans, with walls up to 10 metres high and towers reaching 12 metres. Declared a cultural monument of national importance and accessible without entrance fees, Hisarlaka offers visitors historical significance combined with panoramic views over Kyustendil and its surrounding landscape.

Maiden's Fortress, known as Momina Krepost or Devingrad (Virgins' Town), is a Late Antiquity and medieval Bulgarian fortress located near Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Positioned about 600 meters east of the famous Tsarevets Hill, the fortress is approximately 300 meters long and stretches along the right bank of the Yantra River. Originally established to protect connections between the Early Byzantine town and important trade roads, the site was first studied by 19th-century archaeologist Karel Skorpil and has been subject to ongoing excavations revealing its role in regional defense networks during multiple historical periods.