Trayanovi vrata

The passage Trayanovi vrata is located in Sredna Gora Mountain, 15 km from the town of Kostenets near the Trakia Highway. In 5th century BC the army of the Thracian tsar Sitalk passed through it. Then its name was Suki. In the end of 1st century AD the area was part of the Roman province Serdika. The pass was a connection of Rome and the most eastern parts of the Empire. The fortress itself was built in the II century by emperor Trayan, as a symbolic border between the provinces Thrace and Macedonia. This territory became a part of Bulgaria, when in 831-836, knyaz Malamir annexed it. After this period the Bulgarians called the fortress Shtipon. The fortress went in history in 986, when the Roman emperor Vassili II besieged Serdika. Then the army of Samuil helped the town under siege and the Romans withdrew. During the way back on August 17, the forces of Vassili II were defeated in the passage Trayanovi Vrata. With great difficulty the emperor and a couple of men of his entourage succeeded to escape. Current name of the passage – Trayanovi vrata, was used for the first time in connection with the campaign of Vladislav Varnenchik, who passed through it in 1443. Today the fortress is in the National Monuments of Culture list.