Samuil Fortress

The origins of Samuil Fortress date back to the late 10th and early 11th centuries. During the reign of Tsar Samuil (997-1014), when the Bulgarian Empire was embroiled in warfare with Byzantium, a defensive system, the Klyuchkata defensive system, was erected here. Samuil Fortress was an integral part of these fortifications and served Tsar Samuil as a command post. The year 1014 is significant, as Byzantine troops under Emperor Basil II defeated the Bulgarian army here and captured 14,000 Bulgarian soldiers. Basil II ordered all prisoners to be blinded, with only every hundredth man spared one eye to lead his comrades home. According to legend, Tsar Samuil could not bear the sight of his blinded soldiers and died shortly thereafter. Emperor Basil II earned the epithet “Bulgar-slayer” due to this event.

Samuil Fortress is located in the municipality of Petrich, in the Blagoevgrad district, in Bulgaria. It stands at an elevation of approximately 211 meters above sea level.

Visitors can explore the remains of Samuil Fortress today. The “Samuil Fortress” National Park Museum includes archaeological findings, among them 13 preserved small shelters and the “Great Shelter,” as well as the ruins of an observation tower. Above the ruins, a viewing platform with a memorial composition and an exhibition hall has been established. The fortress is one of Bulgaria's 100 national tourist sites.