Philippolis Fortress, Ancient fortress in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Philippolis Fortress is an ancient fortification spread across multiple hills in Plovdiv, featuring strategic towers and thick defensive walls. The ruins form a ring around the city's historical center and remain accessible in many sections.
The fortress was founded in 342 BCE when Philip II of Macedon established the settlement. It evolved through Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, each leaving their mark on its structure.
The fortress displays construction styles left by Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans as you walk along its walls. Each period used different building techniques and stonework that remain visible in the structure today.
You can reach the fortress remains through marked paths on Nebet Tepe hill, where information panels explain the different construction phases. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to explore when there are fewer crowds.
The fortress walls were built to use seven syenite hills, creating a natural defense system. These hills made the city nearly impregnable from multiple directions.
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