Tsari Mali Grad, Roman fortress in Verila Mountain, Bulgaria
Tsari Mali Grad is a Roman fortress located on a hilltop in the Verila Mountains, featuring preserved stone walls, defensive towers, and three temples built in successive layers. The site reveals how its geography made it a natural location where multiple civilizations chose to build their own fortifications and religious structures.
The fortress was established during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the third century, serving to protect crucial mountain routes between Serdica and other Roman settlements in the region. It remained in use until around 578 AD, when it was eventually abandoned.
The name "Tsar's Small Town" reflects its role as a fortified settlement of importance, and visitors can observe how different religious buildings were constructed atop one another across the centuries. This layering tells the story of how communities repeatedly chose this location for spiritual and defensive purposes.
The site sits in a mountainous setting near the village of Belchin, southwest of Sofia, with paths that can be uneven and terrain that is often hilly. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow adequate time to explore the various towers and temple remains scattered across the hilltop.
Excavations have uncovered coins from the era of Emperor Justinian, revealing that the site remained important long after its original construction. These discoveries indicate the fortress continued to serve defensive and administrative functions during the period of major population movements in the region.
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