 Ustra fortress
In Bulgarian: Крепост Устра
Category: Fortress
Location: Ustren
Ustra fortress is located on a high, oblong ridge, 5 km north of village of Ustren and 3 km southeast of village of Lebed. It was built in X century (probably during the reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus - 913-959). The Fortress often changed its ownership and at times it was possession of Byzantine, at times of Bulgaria. The castle is shaped as not closed quadrangle (form of letter П) and covers an area of around 1300 m2. The length of the wall was 113 meters. The walls was 2.8 m thick in the base and 1.75 m in their upper end. There are parts of the walls that are still preserved and are 8-10 meters in height. The Fort had three security towers (one semi-circular and two rectangular), each with three floors and internal staircases (some of them preserved till today). The main gate was on the east side of the fortress and the door was opened vertically. In Ustra have discovered the foundations of 8 residential constructions, reservoirs and food storehouses built in the southern and southeastern parts. The largest building was sized 11.0 x 6.0 m and the smallest - 0.50 x 1.70 m. Part of the buildings were on 3 floors - occupied were the top two and the underground has served as a storage or reservoir. In archaeological surveys there were found many metal objects (iron arrows, parts of a helmet, bronze and silver crosses), pottery, copper coins and more. The castle can be reached by 2 ways: through the village of Lebed (easier to climb, but more difficult to detect) and through the village of Ustren (there is info-sign).
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village Ustren
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