The Medieval Town of Cherven

The Medieval town of Cherven is the biggest medieval settlement having its own fortress, found in Bulgaria. It is located by the river of Cherni Lom in the region of Polomie. The first traces of man in this region date back to the old stone age. The antique era has also left its tracks. Thracians used to live here. Romans came to these lands in the first century. Later, Bulgarians built their fortresses and fortifications among the rocks. At that time (13-14th century), the Medieval town of Cherven was one of the most important military, administrative, economic, religious and cultural centers in Bulgaria. The first written monuments, mentioning the town, were written in old Bulgarian languages and are dated back to the 11th century. According to them, a king called Gega, also known as Odelyan, established on the territory of Bulgaria the towns Cherven, Nessebar, and Shtip. Cherven is a typical feudatory town, consisting of two parts – the Citadel and the actual town. The walls surrounding the town reach 3 m in thickness. The only completely preserved military tower in Bulgaria is located there. 11 churches have been found on the territory of the town, built in the style of the Tarnovo School of Architecture. Cherven was completely ruined during the Ottoman invasion in 1388, and never came to life again. It has been the object of systematic excavations since 1961.