Ovech Fortress, Medieval fortress near Provadiya, Bulgaria.

Ovech Fortress is a medieval fortification on a plateau near Provadia in Bulgaria. The structure features stone walls and towers built on natural rock formations that rise several meters above the surrounding land.

Built by the Byzantines in the 4th century AD, Ovech was active until the 7th century, then revived from the 11th to the late 17th century. It was known as Provaton to the Byzantines, Ovech to the Bulgarians and Tash Hisar to the Ottomans. In 1388 it fell to a 30,000-strong Ottoman army under Çandarlı Ali Pasha.

The name Ovech is a literal Bulgarian translation of the Greek Provaton, meaning "sheep fortress," adopted by the Bulgarians of Asparuh from an earlier Slavic rendering. The fortress was also called Tash Hisar (stone fortress) by the Ottomans and Burfanto by the 12th-century Arab geographer al-Idrisi. A local legend tells that a colored duck released into the famous well resurfaced two days later at Petrov Dol, 12 km away.

Access to the fortress follows an eco path with stairs; the site is not adapted for wheelchairs. The walk from Provadia to the plateau takes about 20 minutes on foot. The rocky terrain and exposed edges require sturdy shoes, and there is little shade along the route.

Inside the fortress are 13 water collection cisterns and a deep well that extends far into the rock. These structures show how cleverly residents used the natural rock to secure water during times of siege.