Mezek Fortress, Medieval fortress in Mezek, Bulgaria
Mezek Fortress is a medieval military structure in Bulgaria featuring nine defensive towers along its southern wall, built from stone blocks with decorative brick patterns throughout. The site covers a substantial area and displays the typical layout of Byzantine and Bulgarian fortifications.
The fortress was built in the 11th century under Byzantine rule to control important trade routes between the Maritsa and Arda rivers. It remained a strategic point until its later conquest by the Ottoman forces.
The fortress displays building styles from different periods, as Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian builders each left their own techniques visible in the stonework. These differences remain noticeable today in the varying patterns and methods used along the walls.
A marked path leads from Mezek village to the fortress and is relatively straightforward to follow. Informational signs explain the historical features found at various points around the site.
Around 1900, portions of the original fortress walls were dismantled and the stones reused to build Ottoman military barracks in the nearby town of Svilengrad. This repurposing shows how the ruins later served as a practical source of building materials.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
