Anevo Fortress, the Hilltop Stronghold of Kopsis near Sopot
Anevo Fortress, also called Kopsis or Anevsko Kale, is a medieval stronghold on a steep hill at the southern foot of the Balkan Mountains, near the village of Anevo and the town of Sopot in Plovdiv Province. Built in the first half of the 12th century, it is one of the best preserved fortresses in Bulgaria and a rewarding walk for anyone who likes ruins with tall walls.
Two brothers of a Bulgarian tsar once ruled a quasi-independent realm from this steep hilltop, and walls and towers up to about 12 metres high still stand there today.
The history of Anevo Fortress
People lived on this hill long before the fortress was built. Finds and sources show habitation since antiquity, followed by Roman and early Byzantine settlement, and under early medieval Bulgarian rule. Under the fortress ruins, archaeologists found traces of an earlier church from the 5th to 6th century. The fortress in its present form, however, was begun in the first half of the 12th century and remained in use until about the end of the 14th century.
Its moment of glory came in the last quarter of the 13th century. According to the Byzantine chroniclers George Pachymeres and John Kantakouzenos, the fortress was the capital of the lands of the brothers Smilets, Voysil and Radoslav. Voysil and Radoslav ruled a quasi-independent domain between the Balkan Mountains and the Sredna Gora, stretching roughly from today's Sliven westwards to Kopsis, while Smilets himself rose to the throne of the Bulgarian tsars and reigned from 1292 to 1298.
The fortress was laid out on several levels. At the very top stood the central citadel, built to defend itself independently, and the other buildings spread over the lower terraces. The main entrance was on the southern side. Walls with gates and towers ringed the inner city, and the whole fortress is thought to have had eight towers, some rectangular and some polygonal, of which several survive with ruins up to about 12 metres high. The western wall, flanked by a tower at each end, is the best preserved, around 1.65 metres thick and 96 to 110 metres long. The masonry is made of broken local stones and river stones bound with white mortar.
Excavations, which began in 1983, revealed that the fortress also held a monastery. The foundations of four churches have been uncovered, two inside the citadel and two outside it, and at least one still shows traces of medieval frescoes and paving. Houses inside the citadel were built of broken stone and white mortar and usually had one floor, sometimes two or more. Pottery was found as well. The citadel and the suburb of Anevo Fortress were two of the three main quarters of the medieval town of Kopsis, today's Sopot.
Large numbers of 19th-century artillery shell fragments have been found around the fortress and on the approaches to it. Together with the relatively fresh traces of fire inside, they suggest that the fortress may have been shelled by the Russian army during the Liberation War of 1877–78, though the hill could also have served as an Ottoman position or as a target for practice firing.
Curious facts about Anevo Fortress
- The fortress is known by three names: Anevo Fortress, Anevsko Kale and the medieval name Kopsis.
- A glacier in Antarctica, the Kopsis Glacier, is named after the fortress.
- The writer Ivan Vazov mentions the fortress in his travel sketch “A Corner of the Balkan Mountains”.
- Some scholars suggest that Sopot was the medieval town of Potuka, known only from the life of Saint Michael the Warrior of Potuka, though this remains a hypothesis.
- The fortress is thought to have had eight defensive towers, some of them rectangular and some polygonal in plan.
- Beneath the medieval church excavators found traces of an earlier church from the 5th to 6th century.
Tours near Anevo Fortress
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Anevo Fortress: what to expect
- The fortress stands on a ridge at about 850 metres above sea level, and can be reached by road from Sopot, about 4 km away, and then on foot, or by an eco-trail that climbs to the top.
- Look for the western wall with a tower at each end, the best-preserved stretch, and for the foundations of the four churches.
- The Sopot Monastery of the Ascension of the Lord lies right next to the ruins and fits easily into the same outing.
- The ridge is part of a steep landscape, so sturdy shoes are advisable; check the current visiting conditions before you go.
- From the heights, the Stryama river flows a few kilometres to the south.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Anevo Fortress is
Photos of Anevo Fortress
Questions
What is Anevo Fortress?
Anevo Fortress, also known as Kopsis or Anevsko Kale, is a medieval hilltop fortress near the village of Anevo and the town of Sopot. It was built in the first half of the 12th century.
Where is Anevo Fortress?
It stands on the southern slope of the Balkan Mountains, about 4 km from Sopot in Plovdiv Province, at an altitude of around 850 metres.
Who ruled from Anevo Fortress?
In the last quarter of the 13th century it was the capital of the lands of Voysil and Radoslav, brothers of Tsar Smilets, who held a quasi-independent domain between the Balkan Mountains and the Sredna Gora.
How well preserved is Anevo Fortress?
It is among the best preserved fortresses in Bulgaria. Wall and tower ruins still reach about 12 metres in height, and the foundations of four churches have been excavated.
How do I get to Anevo Fortress?
It lies about 4 km from Sopot by road, and an eco-trail also leads to the top. Check the current conditions before you go.
What else is worth seeing near Anevo Fortress?
The Sopot Monastery of the Ascension of the Lord stands right beside the ruins, and the town of Sopot lies a few kilometres away.
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