Foreword:

Scientific Society "Ratiaria Semper Floreat" publishes the book

THRACIAN, GREEK, ROMAN  AND MEDIEVAL CITIES,

RESIDENCES  AND FORTRESSES IN  BULGARIA.

In this work are included settlements on the right bank of the Danube, on the western Black Sea shore, on both sides of the Balkan (Stara planina).

These are, from west to east:

Bdin – the last Bulgarian stronghold to fall under Ottoman rule in 1396; twenty kilometers southeast there are the ruins of Ratiaria – a town with the status of provincial colony, which becomes the capital of the province of Dacia Ripensis after 275 AD.

Next is the Roman centre Durostorum (legionary camp, canabae and many villages nearby). It grew into a major medieval city called Drastar with a fortress wall of unique plan.

Montana is an important centre in the western part of the province of Moesia Inferior during the age of the Principate. This site is the main ore-mining centre of the province.

Sostra is a military camp at the foot of the Balkan Mountains with a strategic situation.

The medieval settlement of Hotalich(?) is located near the modern town of Sevlievo. Its state of preservation is very good and it is of interest for the archaeology lovers.

Southwest of the Balkan, in the region of Macedonia (the part in present-day Bulgaria) there is a city with a very old history. Recently it has been assumed that it was called Parthicopolis for a long period of time.

Today, on the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, the donjon Bukelon towers. It is located a few kilometers away from Hadrianopolis (Edirne), where great historical battles took place.

By the village of Mezek near Svilengrad, at the border between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, there are two interesting sites – a unique ancient tomb and a Byzantine fortress.

Anchialos (Anchialus) is an ancient Greek Black Sea colony with a millennial history. That is where the big salt-pans on the Pontic coast are located and they were once even the reason for hostilities.

 

Sofia, 2013/2015                                 Prof. Rumen Teofilov Ivanov, Scientific editor