Bulgaria has preserved 1,300 years old fortress. If you do not know that fact you have never been in Cherven Fortress. It is located only 30 km away from Ruse. It was founded 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Centuries before the place was inhabited by Thracian tribes. The Bulgarians captured the fortress and it was inhabited until the 14 century when Bulgaria under the Ottoman yoke.

In fact, the landscape may seem familiar even if you are coming for the first time. The perfectly preserved three-story tower from the 14th century in Cherven is actually a prototype of the Baldwin Tower, which today stands at the fortress Tsarevets in Veliko Tarnovo. The importance of Cherven grew in the 13 century, when it became the center of Cherven bishopric. The prosperity of the city was in the 14 century when its territory increased significantly to about 1 square kilometer.

You can check the feudal castle of the rulers, which overlooks the main street. The building was shaped like a trapezoid, and its walls were thick 1.20 -1.40 m. In its yard there was its own church. In the courtyard of the castle there was a cistern, which collects rainwater. Smaller were carved into the rocks in many places in the fort. There were also wartime water supply facilities used during defense. They can be still reached by a very steep staircase.

In the castle you can see the remains of the residential buildings and shops that were built in tiers around both sides of the wide about 2 m main street. Most of the homes had only one room on the first floor and the second was reached by an internal staircase. Some of the houses had clay stoves like fireplaces for heating. To view Cherven fortress you must pay 4 lev /approximately 2 euro/ for entry ticket. So worth a guided tour. The price for students is 1 lev /approximately 0,5 euro/ and organized groups over 5 people pay 3 lev /approximately 1,5 euro/.