Abritus Archaeological Reserve

Overview

Abritus Archaeological Reserve is located 2 km east of Razgrad, near the main road Ruse Varna. The entire reserve covers an area of ​​1000 acres and preserves the archaeological remains of the Roman city of Abritus.

Abritus was founded at the end of the 1st century AD as a Roman military camp on the ruins of an old Thracian settlement and has grown to one of the largest urban centers in Lower Moesia - the Roman province located in present-day Northern Bulgaria.

Ancient authors mention Abritus in connection with the battle that took place in his vicinity in 251, in which Emperor Trajan Decius died.

In the 4th century a fortress, a fortress wall 3 m thick and 12 m high, 4 gates and 35 battle towers were built on an area of ​​14 hectares. During the period V-VI century the city was an important Christian center. It was destroyed by the Avars and the Slavs at the end of the 6th century. At the end of the 9th and the beginning of the 10th century a Bulgarian fortress was built on its place.

The remains of a peristyle complex (rectangular courtyard and building), which was the residence of a senior state magistrate, can be seen on the territory of the archeological reserve on an area of ​​3200 sq. M. From its southern facade you enter six shops located on both sides of the main entrance. Roman-Ionian columns rise on the four sides of the courtyard. In the eastern and western part of the complex are located the remains of large outbuildings. The building was used until the end of the 6th century, when the whole city was destroyed.

An archeological museum has been set up in the Abritus Reserve, in which some of the objects found during excavations in the area are exhibited. The entire archeological exposition is divided into five themes, which represent the development of human society. In Abritus was discovered the largest in the country gold coin treasure from the V century - 835 solidi (coins), which is presented in the museum in photos. Visitors, however, can see a smaller treasure on display, again of solids dating back to the tenth century.

The large finds discovered during archeological excavations in the reserve have been collected in an open-air museum. In the park part of Abritus are exhibited 70 epigraphic monuments, most of which date from the Roman era. Here you can see finds related to the pagan cult, including an altar dedicated to Hercules from the time of Emperor Septimius Severus. Numerous tombstone inscriptions in ancient Greek and Latin are evidence of the diverse population that inhabited Abritus over the centuries - Romans, Bulgarians and Turks. Of considerable interest are the tombstones and construction inscriptions dating from the 18th and 19th centuries - Christian, Muslim and one Armenian.

You can learn more about the reserve if you take advantage of a guided tour. The museum sells information materials and souvenirs.