Baldwin's Tower, Medieval tower at Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.
Baldwin's Tower is a stone structure that stands near the Frenhisar Gate at the southeast entrance of Tsarevets Fortress overlooking the Yantra River and rises about 15 meters high. It formed part of the medieval defense system and also protected an important water reservoir for the fortress.
The current structure was built in 1930 by architect Alexander Reshenov on the site where Baldwin I of Flanders was held prisoner after his capture by Tsar Kaloyan in 1205. The construction drew from architectural elements of medieval defense towers to maintain historical authenticity.
The tower is connected to the legend of Queen Tselguba, who fell in love with the imprisoned Baldwin I, and this love story became part of important medieval moments in Bulgarian history. Visitors today still hear this tale when they visit the fortress area.
The tower is reachable from the city center by a walking path and is attended by guides who explain the medieval defense system. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the route to the tower involves uneven ground and the fortress sits on a hill.
The structure incorporates building elements from medieval defense towers of the nearby Cherven fortress near Ruse to preserve historical authenticity. This use of materials makes it an interesting example of modern reconstruction that respects local architectural traditions.
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