There is hardly a more suitable place for historical restoration of the Bulgarian medieval life from the fortress of Cherven, founded 1,300 years ago, at the time of the establishment of the Bulgarian state. That’s why the place is also chosen to hold a Medieval Festival where you can go back to the past and learn more about the people’s lifestyle then. This year, you can visit the event on May 26th and May 27th. The entrance to the festival is free, and you only have to buy tickets for the historical landmark.

The entrance ticket for the fortress costs 4 leva /approximately 2 euro/, for groups above 5 people the price is 3 leva /approximately 1,5 euro/, for each and for students and pupils the price is one lev or 50 euro cents. During the festival in Cherven will live a camp that will be as authentic as possible and with many opportunities for entertainment, the organizers from Chigot promise. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visitors will be able to immerse themselves in history, to participate in different games or to experience their archery skills.

The battle demonstrations, which are among the most interesting for the audience, are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the two days of the festival. If you choose to attend the event, you will also have a chance to explore a fortress inhabited until the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottoman rule in the 14th century. 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.

Cherven Fortress was naturally protected from the rocks on which it is built and in places reach a height of 100 meters. While walking around the castle you will see the foundations of 13 churches. 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 1.20 -1.40 m thick. 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 the 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 meters wide 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.