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Skip the Line: Medieval Tuida Fortress tours

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Tickets from € 6.90

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Тhe Tuida Fortress is a Late Roman, Early Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian fortress located on the Hisarlaka Hill in the eastern Bulgarian city of Sliven. It's a must see attraction offering plenty of activities inside. We welcome you!
  • guiding (if this option is booked)
  • archery & medieval dresses (if this option is booked)
  • E-guide
  • taking photos
  • Food, drinks and personal expenses
Departure Point

Medieval Tuida Fortress, Sliven, Bulgaria

  • Medieval Tuida Fortress, Sliven, Bulgaria
    The Tuida Fortress avoided destruction during the invasion of the Goths in 378 AD but was destroyed in the invasions of the Huns in the 5th century AD. It was rebuilt during the reign of Roman Emperor Anastasius I (r. 491-518 AD), preserving but also enhancing the original architecture of the fortress. The Tuida Fortress was ultimately destroyed around 598-599 AD, most probably during an invasion of Avars and Slavs. The territory around today’s Bulgarian city of Sliven was made part of Bulgaria, i.e. of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD), around 705 AD when Bulgarian Khan (or Kanas) Tervel gained the Zagore Region south of the Balkan Mountains after he helped Byzantine Emperor Justinian II the Slit-nosed (Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus) (r. 685-695 and 705-711 AD) regain his throne in Constantinople. Thus, a Bulgarian settlement, whose name remains unknown, was built on the place of the Tuida Fortress. A lead seal of Bulgarian Knyaz Boris I Mihail (r. 852-889 AD) has been found there. The Bulgarians rebuilt the fortress walls and the aquaduct of Tuida, and erected new buildings inside the fortress that were covered with marble slabs produced by stone cutters in the then Bulgarian capital Veliki Preslav (“Great Preslav”). Several bricks with an Ancient Bulgar sign (resembling “|Y|") have been found there. Written sources indicated that Tuida was the seat of a bishop from the 4th century AD onwards. After the original excavations of the Tuida Fortress first started in 1982, they were resumed in 2004. The archaeological finds there include, in addition to Knyaz Boris I’s lead seal, a number of iron tools, ceramic vessels, ornaments, coins, and bones from 14 species of wild and domesticated birds including Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata), western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), great bustard (Otis tarda), and common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). The archaeological excavations have revealed the fortress walls of Tuida, fortress towers and gates, remains of buildings, two marble pedestals dedicated to gods Apollo and Zeus which contain the name of the fortress as Tuida or Suida (known in written sources as Tsoida), a 3rd century AD inscription describing the settlement as a market place, a cult complex used between the 4th and the 13th century consisting of a three-nave one-apse Early Christian basilica and a unique baptistery decorated with murals and mosaics. The ruins of a larger basilica have been found outside the fortress walls (which encompassed an area of about 40 decares (app. 10 acres)) which is taken to mean that the settlement was not confined by the fortified area but spanned outside of it.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please, wear comfortable shoes.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
panpanx1990
22 Apr 2022
Fun experience with an English guide explaining the rich culture of Bulgaria. Highly recommend to everyone that visit Sliven!
EKaterina1710
11 Oct 2020
Wonderful tour with interesting fortress. The guide is knowledgeable and the monuments inside are very well preserved. Worth exploring if around!
MaggieVIP
19 Dec 2019
Though it might not look impressive from the outside, it is in the inside. So many attractions to try like medieval games (lots of fun), archery, dress like a local from the times, superb guides inside to show you the secrets of the fortress. Really great experience while we were in Sliven - the town of the 100 chieftains. Recommended!
This tour in Sliven is organized by Visit Bulgaria On

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