The Cepina fortress

Location:

It is situated 6 km. from the village of Dorkovo, in the north-eastern part of the Chepinska hollow. It was built up on a high and sheer top at 1136 m. above sea-level. The citadel is an archaeological monument of a national significance.

History:

In the Middle Ages Tsepina was one of the most important Bulgarian fortresses in the Rhodope region. The Bulgarians took the castle in the 9th century but with the end of the First Bulgarian Empire in the beginning of the 11th century the Byzantines conquered it. Tsepina was liberated by Emperor Kaloyan (1197-1207). In 12th-14th century it grew as an important city and one of the strongest strongholds of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It was a seat of despot Aleksey Slav. Between 1246 and 1254 it was under Byzantine control but Emperor Michael Asen (1246-1256) managed to retake the fortress. Around 1373 Tsepina was seized by the Turks under the command of Daud pasha after a bloody 9 month siege[1] but only after the Ottomans cut off the water-conduit.[2] Soon after that it was abandoned by its inhabitants.

During the Middle Ages the Cepina fortress is one of the most famous strongholds in the Rodopi range.It entered the territory of the Bulgarian country in the middle of the IX century. During the XI century it was conquered by the Byzantines. However during the reign of tsar Kaloyan (1197 - 1207) Cepita was again returned in the area of the Bulgarian country. During the XII- XIII century it was a great Medieval town – fortress.

Legends:

The citadel was a capital of the lands, ruled by the son of Kaloyan's sister, named Aleksi Slav. The outer fortress walls embraced an area of 25 decares. Аt the highest place a castle was built up. Three churches are investigated, from which are the two marble altar reliefs of the two apostiles Peter and Pavel, exhibited in Sankt Peterburg.