The “Tsari Mali Grad” fortress

The cultural and historical complex Tsar Mali Grad is located in the village of Belchin, Samokov municipality. It includes several sites - the medieval church of St. Petka, the ethnographic complex in the village of Belchin and the 300 meters high late antique fortress of Tsari Mali Grad. Provoked by the endless treasure hunt for the St. Spas hill over the village of Belchin and the signals for the destruction of historical monuments in 2007, the archaeological research of the area was started. During the excavations on the hill St. Spas, it was discovered that the construction of the fortress had begun during the reign of Emperor Valentin (364-378). The site of the fortress had been deliberately chosen and the ability to observe the whole valley and protect its western part had been taken into account . During the archaeological excavations, 5 phases of habitation on the hill have been identified, which speaks of its importance and resilience as a strategic and cultural early Christian center in the orbit of the large urban centers of antiquity - Serdika, Pautalia and Germanea. A Christian cult complex was discovered on the hill of St. Spas. It is located just north of the gate of the fortress. On this site to this day, the Belchin inhabitants celebrate Spasovden. By the 1960s, there was a votive cross, placed under a century-old oak. A funicular (a railroad installation) and a very well-maintained eco path lead to the fortress of Tsari Mali Grad. (Source: www.carimaligrad.com)