Ancient fortress on Cape St. Atanas - town of Byala
Ancient fortress on Cape St. Atanas - town of Byala
The fortress of Cape St. Atanas is one of the hidden jewels on our coast. It was discovered by Herman and Karel Shkorpil and described in 1892 as a small fortress south of the village of Ak Dere (today's town of Byala). According to archaeological excavations, the fortress dates back to the V-VI centuries BC and was developed in the years up to the VII-th century. It was a port city where trade developed, pottery was made and wine was produced.
The fortress had a fortification line and a fortress wall 3 meters high above ground level. The fenced area is about 35 decares, which is equivalent to over 80 basketball courts. It had a water supply and sewage system, as well as streets, a bathhouse, and a basilica. According to archaeologists, this place was a sanctuary of Heracles (Hercules), as 6 marble statuettes with the exploits of the mythical hero were found.
How to get there?
The fortress is located in the town of Byala (Varna region) (Byala is commonly used name for Bulgarian cities and villages - it basically translated as "White"). The most convenient access is by car on the Burgas - Varna road. It is located about 50 km from Varna and about 70 km from Burgas. There is a free car park in front of the fortress.
You can also get there by bus from Burgas or Varna. Buses run every hour and can drop you off in Byala. Keep in mind that the fortress is on the edge of the city and you will probably have to walk about 2 km to it or take a taxi.
I recommend that you include it in your seaside vacation and combine it with the beautiful beaches nearby.
See the exact location of the church on Google Maps from the button below.
Ancient fortress "Vicha" - town of Byala
How long does it take to see the fortress?
I personally recommend that you set aside at least an hour and a half for walking and taking pictures. And if you are interested in history and excavations, you can spend half a day here alone to see and enjoy everything.
How much does the visit cost?
The ticket to visit the fortress costs 7 leva, 3 leva for pensioners/pupils and students, and the family ticket for two parents with children is 15 leva.
Can you tell me more about this place?
Of course! It's my pleasure to find curious readers.
The fortress on Cape St. Atanas was a small port city. Over the centuries, it has undergone many changes and developments. Initially, it was a very small territory around the cape, and later it expanded significantly. A moat and a defensive wall were built with a length of 250 meters, a height of about 3 meters and a width of one meter and 80 cm. This clearly shows that in addition to commercial functions, it was also a defensive fortress in case of attacks.
The constructed sewage and water supply networks are clearly visible in the fortress. A spring was used, which was slightly higher for supply. The water arrived through ceramic pipes to the city. A street network with large flat stones was also built.
Numerous buildings were found in the fortress itself, which were most likely used for commercial or production activities - shops, taverns, workshops, warehouses. Some of them are one-story, and others are two-story. There were 2 kilns for ceramics. One for ceramic vessels (pots, lids, cups, pitchers, etc.) and amphorae for transportation. The other was used for the production of ceramic pipes for the water supply or for the hypocaust. The hypocaust is the Roman interpretation of underfloor heating. It was used to heat the warm rooms in the bath by moving heated air under the surface. The bath consisted of 3 rooms - one cool, one warm and one hot. They were entered in this order from cold to hot, and then exited in the opposite order. This indicates that the bathhouse was used quite actively for communication, negotiating deals, exchanging gossip, and even petty trade.
The winery, which has been largely restored, is also impressive. In fact, there were three wineries, which shows that agriculture was also part of the locals' occupations. The winery, which has been restored, consists of a main building and several auxiliary buildings with a wooden shed. There was a large basin for placing the grapes, which was tilted so that the grape must(sturm) flow through a pipe into a pithos (a large ceramic vessel similar to an amphora with a capacity of 300 liters). The grapes were crushed with a huge stone press, which was driven by a wooden mechanism with a vertical screw.
There was also an early Christian sacral center. It included a basilica, the residence of the high priest, baptismal font, a repository for the offerings and a well for holy water. The basilica was made with high-quality marble details - columns, partitions, etc. In the center on a specially built base was the altar table. The baptismal font has been rebuilt many times, being moved, and the pool has been reduced in size over the years. This is most likely to indicate that adults were baptized at first, and later it was used mainly for children. A large part of the Christian center has been preserved/restored and can be examined in detail.
Are there any great heights and is it scary?
No! The fortress is located on a rocky promontory, but there are no steep or dangerous places. There is only one terrace behind the winery, which offers a view down to the cliffs. But it is entirely a matter of personal preference whether to visit it.
When is the best time to visit?
To be honest, the best time to visit is right now. If you came across this article and it has attracted your interest, don't delay. Grab your sunglasses, hat, and good mood and go.
I would recommend spring or fall. If you visit in the summer, don't choose the sunniest and warmest days, because you'll be hot and won't be able to enjoy the place.
I turned out to have passed Byala hundreds of times, but I had never stopped to see the fortress. Now I regret the long delay, because I really liked it and was very impressed.
What's interesting nearby?
Near the fortress I can recommend you to visit the beach of Byala. In the direction of Varna you can see the beach Kara Dere, the zoo Goritsa, the beach in Shkorpilovtsi, the fortress Petrich Kale near the village of Razdelna and of course Varna.
In the direction of Burgas I would recommend the beach Irakli, Cape Emine, the old town of Nessebar, the old part of Pomorie and many more wonderful beaches. (Watch the Beaches of Bulgaria on my YouTube channel)
What is your opinion about the fortress?
Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear what you think about this landmark.
Hey, don't you think your friends would love to see this story? Share it with them and help my blog. Love ya, buddy
Leave a comment