National Archaeological Site Kabile
National Archaeological Reserve Kabile is located in the region of "Zaychi vrah" peak, 1.5 km north of the village of Kabyle. The complex occupies an area of about 6 000 m2 and includes the remains of ancient Thracian town, a Thracian sanctuary, remains of a Roman town and an archaeological museum.
A settlement in these lands had existed even the early Iron Age. There were found objects, dating from X - VI century BC.
The Thracian city of Kabyle occurred about II century BC. It is situated on a plateau, near Tunja river. On the top of the plateau is situated a rocky acropolis, which was a sanctuary of the goddess Cybele. In its existence the town was the residence of the Kings Spartakos and Skostok.
The location of the Kabyle was very important, which is the reason the town was repeatedly attacked and conquered. In 342/341 BC. Philip II conquered it. Here is situated a military garrison and town was built in the architectural principles of Hellenism.
72 BC the city was conquered and destroyed by Marc Terentsiy Varon Lucullus as a punitive action because of the participation of the Thracians as allies of Mithridates VI Yevpatoriya against Rome.
Kabyle reached its apogee in II - III century when it became the most important Roman military camp in the province of Thrace and a major crossroad junction.
At the end of VI century the city was conquered and destroyed by Avars.
In 1965 the site was declared an archaeological reserve and now is one of the 100 national tourist sites of Bulgaria. The museum in the complex offers information and objects found in the region during the different archaeological excavations. There are exhibited many beautiful mosaics, coins minted in the ancient city of Kabyle and other artifacts.
