Medieval fortress Ustra - the Rhodope Tsarevets
The medievla fortress Ustra is situated on a high peak (1114 m), on a long rocky hill with the same name close to the village of Ustren in the municipality of Dzhebel, Kardzhali Region.
It is located 9 km south-west of Dzhebel, 30 km in the same direction of Kardzhali, 23 km north-east of Zlatograd and about 270 km south-east of the capital Sofia city.
history
The fortress was built in the Middle Ages (X century) in order to protect the trade route that used to pass there and during its existence has mainly been under the control of the Byzantine Empire. According to archaeological data the earliest dating of the fort was from the reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus - (913-959). At that time the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon I most probably took over the fortress, but then ceded it to Byzantium and was proclaimed "vasileopator" - that supreme guardian of the emperor, who married one of his daughters.
The subsequent dissolution of the contract by Zoya - the emperor's mother, soon led to the crippling defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Aheloy /917/. However, after Tsar Simeon's death in 927 the fort remained permanently in Byzantine hands despite the secondary evidence that during the Feudalism and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom /XII - XIV century/ it was conquered by Ivan Asen II.
architecture
The fortress covers an area of 1.29 ha of which the northern and northwestern part occupied by cliffs. The fortified wall has a U-shape. It is 113 m long. Its thickness at the base is about 3 m, at the top about 2 m and is up to 8 m high. The face of the wall is made of well-cut stones cemented with white mortar, the interior is filled with stones, poured with white mortar. The defense capabilities are reinforced with three towers - one semicircular and two rectangular. They were three-floor. The ground or first floor of the towers was used as a reservoir. Climbing the tower was carried out via internal stone staircase from which parts are preserved in two towers.
The entrance of the fortress was situated in its easternmost part. There are 7 steps, carved into the rock, preserved from it. The foundations of the room that served to house the guardians of the entrance are also preserved. The door was probably vertically moved. In order to enter the fort, one had to walk through the entire area outside the walls and towers.
The first organized excavations were conducted in the period 1971 - 1973, under the leadership of Prof. Stamen Mihaylov. The objects found there show intense life in the period XIII - XIV century. Written evidence of the fort gives George Akropolit in his "Annals" (XIII century). During the archeological excavations numerous metal objects (iron arrows, pieces of a helmet, bronze and silver crosses), pottery, copper coins and more were discovered.
transport
The fort can be reached from the villages of Lebed and Ustren. The road from the village of Lebed is easier to climb but more difficult to find. Should you choose the second road, you have to take the road from the village of Ustren to Zlatograd. At about 4 km you will find the exit where a 2 km long mountain path leading to the fort begins. At about half the distance is the branch for Ustra hut.
accomodation
The hut wearing the same name is situated in the close proximity of the fortress. It is open all-year-round and has 35 places, tourist kitchen and a canteen.
Sources: http://bg.guide-bulgaria.com, http://bg.wikipedia.org, http://www.rhodopes-gallery.com, http://www.bulgariancastles.com
Photos: http://bulgariatravel.org/, http://ivoso.blog.bg
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