Слънчево светилище „Палеокастро”, Sun sanctuary in Topolovgrad, Bulgaria
Paleokastro sun sanctuary is an ancient religious site in Topolovgrad featuring over 150 stone discs carved directly into rock surfaces. The discs vary in size and form part of a larger complex that includes fortification walls.
The sanctuary originated in the early first millennium before Christ, as evidenced by the existing fortification walls. It was discovered in 1888 by brothers Karel and Herman Skorpil during an archaeological expedition.
The sanctuary served as a place of sun worship, and visitors can still see the many discs carved into the rocks that held ritual significance. These stone carvings reveal how central the sun was to the daily life of those who gathered here.
The sanctuary is reached via a marked hiking trail that starts from a road sign in Topolovgrad. The path goes through a residential area and takes roughly 50 minutes on foot.
Archaeological finds suggest the sanctuary shows connections between Thracian and Egyptian cultures. A notable artifact is a stone winged solar disc that was uncovered in 1973.
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