Lyutitsa fortress

Lyutitsa fortress is also known as the Marble city and the citadel of Kaloyan is located in the Eastern part of Rhodopa mountain, Ivaylovgrad municipality, Haskovo region. 

It is 9 km from the town of Ivaylovgrad, 100 km from the town of Haskovo, 12 km from the village of Pelevun, 50 km from the town of Krumovgrad and 400 km from Sofia.

The fortress is one the largest and well-preserved in the country. It is declared archeological monument of culture. It is situated in the highest point of the area, and its altitude is 570 m altitude. Lyutitsa is the only fortress made completely of marble and for this reason it is named the Marble city. From here there is a view to Ivaylovgrad and Greece.

The total area of the fortress is about 15 acres. The walls are well-preserved and their altitude is 800 m and at some points their height is 10 m. In the fortress can be seen the twelve towers and nine of them have preserved their original height, also there are two churches, citadel, residential tower of the ruler, mound and water reservoir.

It is assumed that the fortress was constructed in IV-VI century. During the Middle ages it was center of bishopric and archbishopric. Lyutitsa had main role during the rule of tsar Kaloyan and its attacks above Dimotika and Thessaloniki.

Among the many artifacts from different periods - ceramics, jewelry, coins, objects from bones and metal, architectural details etc, special attention attracts the very rare coin of Joan IV Paleolog, that was minted as a special issue "bazileusi" and open pottery identical to that of Pliska and Preslav, which proves that Bulgarian fortress and was the center of a highly developed culture.

To the fortress leads gravel road from Ladzha quarter in Ivaylovgrad and there is exit just before Pelevun village.

In Ivaylovgrad you can find accommodation options in hotels and guest houses.

Sources: ivaylovgrad.org
Houses: Mirela