#WalkWithMe back in time - One Legend Comes Alive

The village

Belchin is a little village, located in less that 50km away from Sofia, that has a little bit of everything - history, myths, legends, beautiful mountains around, mineral water with proven healing power against many diseases , the highest number of stork nests in Bulgaria, museum, old church and a unique historical complex. It is quite visited by lots of tourists since the opening of the complex in 2013, which consists of a restored fortress from the IV-V century, a church from the XVII century and exhibitions of the archeological findings in the two built again towers.

The legend

According to one legend, Galla Placidia, the daughter of the Roman emperor Theodosius I, was about to start a long journey from Constantinople to Rome to free her son, who was imprisoned in Ravenna. Before that she visited her dying brother and he told her "You will walk many days, you will pass by Augusta Traiana ( today - Stara Zagora city) and Philippopolis (Plovdiv) but before you reach Serdica(Sofia) turn to the south. At the foot of four mountains, by the river Palakariya, you'll find a heaven place with miraculous water. Rest there, plunge yourselves into the healing springs, fill all your amphoras with this water. You'll be healthy and you will have success in your undertakings.
The "heaven place with miraculous water" is Belchin village.
This legend would have remained only a legend if the archeologists hadn't found a coin with Galla Placidia's image on St. Spas hill, part of Verila mountain, above Belchin. There are only two others like that found by now one of them is in Rome and the other in the British Museum. In 2007 archaeological excavations on the hill began, provoked by the endless treasure-hunter interest and signals of the destruction of historical monuments, and they revealed secrets hidden for over a millennia.

The fortress - Tsari Mali Grad

The fortress on the hill above the village had great importance in ancient times - here the Roman roads crossed. The fortification of the hill had began in the III century, and the walls were build later to provide security
in the uncertain times of the Great Migration in IV-V century. In the excavations were found precious golden coins of Justinian, bronze one of Galla Placidia, coins of Trajan, Theodosius, Valens, Valentinian, Gratian and Maximilian. Among the findings are medieval applications, fibulae from the VI century and numerous arrows from the Dark Ages. Archeologists have discovered that around that time the fortress was destroyed.

The original wall of one of the towers is still there completely whole. Luckily for the archeologists, it fell down in an earthquake. It made the restoration a bit easier and authentic, because they knew the exact height of the towers. And we can see it too.

The Church

Usually there are plenty of people there, especially in the weekends, but I went late, so everyone was already leaving and the complex was completely empty.

On all of the walls can be seen this clear line, showing the boundery between the authentic part and the new one.

Between the walls

These Roman guys apparently weren't stupid at all. They chose quite a great place for their fortress with amazing view. I would live there too.

This is how the fortress looked like in IV century. The model is placed in that white half sphere tent inside the fortress.

Inside the towers now

Ancient vanity.

Painting "Thracian mysteries and rituals"

And plenty of other ancient stuff(authentic).

I am not so much into history, but this place is not at all bad, if you manage to avoid the usual crowd. My favorite part is actually the view from the fortress towards the small Vitosha mountain, the village and the valley.
The path that leads to the top of the hill is really beautiful too, and there are other nice paths around the Verila mountain with beautiful views . The nature is outstanding there, I'll show you in my next #walkwithme. Belchin is a blessed place!
Thanks for checking out my blog! :)