Asenova fortress

The picturesque Asenova fortress is situated 2-3 km south of the town of Asenovgrad, in the foot of the Rhodopi mountain. The earliest archeological finds in the region date back to the V-IV century B.C., when the thracians built their fortifications here. It was inhabited during the Roman and early Byzantine era too. The first written evidence of the fortress’s existence could be found in the Statutes of the Bachkovo monastery (IX century), where it is called “the fortified village of Petrich”. It is also mentioned by some other chroniclers, who describe it as a well-run beautiful town. The fortress reached its efflorescence during the ruling of Tzar Ivan Assen II (XIII century), which is the reason why the fortress was named after him. The nearby town Stanimaka was also renamed to Asenovgrad, which continues to be the town’s name nowadays. Exactly in this period, following orders of the king, the most interesting and impressive part of the fortress was built – the church St. Bogoroditza Petrichka. This church is one of the most precious samples of Bulgarian sacral architecture. Mural paintings from the XIV and XIX century are preserved in it. St. Bogoroditza Petrichka was restored in 1934 and 1985, and the mural paintings – in 1991, which is when the church received the status of a functioning temple.