Nebet Hill

The Nebet Hill is the historical reason for the beginning of the nowadays city of Plovdiv. The remains of the first prehistoric settlement on the Three Hills which was one of the first city centers in Southeastern Europe in 12th century BC are found on Nebet Hill. The protected fortified walls of the fortress, which surrounded a sanctuary and a splendid palace, are the main components typical for the settlements of that age. During the Hellene ages the ancient Tracians’ town Evmolpia expanded on the entire Three Hills obsessing the foots as well, and the old settlement along with the fortress on the Nebet Hill turned into citadel of the city acropolis embracing the highest parts of the three hills. The remains of the western fortified wall with an imposing quadrangular tower and entrance of its inner part are dated to that age. The reconstruction of the time of Justinian the Great (6th century) are also protected – a secret exit with staircase in the rocks leading to the right riverside of Maritsa. During the Middle Ages, in the time of the Second Bulgarian State, besides the walls, big water basins were constructed on Nebet Hill, which were used when the stronghold was under siege. The rectangular water basic is of great interest because of its size and capacity of 300,000 l. Niobet in Turkish means guard.