A Trip to Assenova Fortress

Assenova Fortress is situated at about 2 km away from Asenovgrad on a steep, rocky hillside, overhanging the Assenitsa River. The fortress was referred to in the past as Petrich, Stenimahos and Scribentsion. In 1230 as a result of the aggravated relations with the Latin Empire, Tsar Ivan Assen II fortified and expanded the strong Stanimaka’s Fortress. He perpetuated this work of construction art by an inscription, carved above its entrance. This was the reason for the fortress to be renamed to Assenova (Assen’s), and later, in 1934, the town of Stanimaka, situated below it- to be renamed to Assenovgrad. With its locality and structure Assenova Fortress is a typical example of a fortress construction from the period of the 11th-14th century. It spreads over an area of about 1,5 ha and gives the impression of a unique architectural structure. The walls of the fortress follow the relief of the cliff massif. The steepest slopes are not protected by walls and a high wall was built at the south-west side, where the entrance originally was. The fortress lies on four terraces. Until now the archaeological excavations have identified several basic buildings of the citadel: a tower, a water storage tank, and a chapel. The most significant and preserved building is the Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa Petrichka ("The Holy Virgin of Petrich"), situated in the north-eastern corner of the fortress. Every single fresco, every single detail of this temple has been imprinted by the past and tells about it in its own language. It was designed as a cross-domed church. It is a comparatively big two-floor building, 18 m long. The church itself comprises a small narthex and a nave. The narthex is arched with a transverse vault and a quadrangular tower rises above it – a rare element in the church building of the time. There are traces of murals on the walls. Such relics are also found in the arched bays of the south facade. This church dates back from the 12-th century. It is declared a cultural monument of national importance.