Ovech Fortress in Provadia was one of the places we planned to visit during our summer vacation more than 10 years ago. On the way to the sea, near the highway, not far from Varna, this historical landmark simply screamed “Come see me!”. Years later, we returned to the fortress to visit it again and refresh our old memories. It charmed us again – with its ruins and, above all, with the magnificent panoramic views. For a change, during our second visit, we hiked to it from the neighboring village of Petrov Dol.
Short information about Ovech Fortress
The Ovech Fortress was built on a high stone plateau east of the town of Provadia, known as Kaleto. There is evidence that it was used in several different periods during Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and over the centuries it was inhabited successively by “Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, Turks“.
The fortress reached its greatest prosperity during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, due to its key location near Varna and the sea.
A narrow rocky isthmus connects the fortress with the neighboring Tabiite plateau. Both plateaus are part of the Dobrinsko plateau. Kaleto and Tabiite are connected by a 160-meter bridge.
Near the fortress lies the Shashkani Rock Monastery, which operated between the 12th and 14th centuries. It can be reached by following a path across the plateau, starting just beyond the bridge.
The fortress offers a beautiful panoramic view of the town of Provadia.
In addition to being steeped in history, the area is rich in animal and plant species. A pair of Egyptian vultures nest in the area. For this reason, the Egyptian vulture has become the emblem of Provadia.
How to get to Ovech Fortress
The town of Provadia is close to the Hemus Motorway and only 50 km from Varna. You can get to Provadia by train, bus or car. It takes about an hour to move from Varna to Provadia by train or bus. The fastest way is by car – about 40 minutes.
You will see good signposts in the town for Ovech Fortress. There is a small parking lot and a ticket office near the western gate of the fortress. The entrance ticket is 4 leva (for students and pensioners – 2 leva).
There is also an approach to the fortress from the east. This approach to Ovech Fortress has very interesting stone steps carved into the rocks of the plateau.
What to see
There are preserved remains of churches, dwellings and more up on the plateau.
Part of the fortress has been restored.
An impressive wooden bridge connects the fortress to the neighboring plateau. Good information boards have been placed in the fortress.
Allow yourself at least 40 minutes to explore the fortress and its sites.
Other attractions nearby
Rock monasteries
The Provadia region is full of rock monasteries. I have already mentioned the Shashkani monastery. You can reach it by a path on the plateau, starting from the end of the wooden bridge. The distance from Ovech fortress to the Shashkani rock monastery takes about 40 minutes on foot.
You can visit another interesting rock monastery near the neighboring village of Petrov Dol. It is called Sveti Georgi (Saint George).
Waterfalls near the village of Nenovo
The village of Nenovo is located 19 kilometers northwest of Provadia. Near the village you can see two waterfalls. The first one is accessible via an easy and short trail. The path to the second is also short, but have in mind that it’s quite extreme.
Birdwatching and Photography
The Provadia region is part of the “Provadia-Royak Plateau” – a protected area for the conservation of wild birds. It is rich in species and can offer you wonderful conditions for observing and photographing various birds.
Prehistoric salt mining center
This is called Provadia-Solnitsata and is a place that has recently gained particular popularity as the oldest salt-producing and urban center in Europe (5600 – 4350 BC). During my last visit to the region, we had a plan to visit it, but the long rainy period did not allow us. On the other hand, it is a very good reason to go back to the region.
The Mosaic Museum in Devnya
This is a building built over an ancient palace where you can see beautiful Roman and early Byzantine mosaics from the old city of Marcianopolis. There are interesting exhibits with detailed explanations.
The Mosaic Museum is located in the center of Devnya. There are signposts at the entrance to the town.
The Stone Forest (Pobiti kamani)
It is a desert-like natural phenomenon, consisting of large groups of stone columns of different sizes and thicknesses. The Stone Forest is located near the village of Slanchevo, about 32 km east of Provadia and 25 kilometers west of Varna.
Final thoughts
In this article I gave you information on Ovech Fortress in Provadia and everything important about it. If you have any questions about the ruins or the other mentioned places nearby, don’t hesitate to comment below. I’m sure, you will be impressed by the fortress and by the region at all.
