Roman castle Dortikum
Type: Fortress
Location: Village Vrav »
In Bulgarian: Римски кастел Дортикум »
The remains of the ancient Roman castle Dortikum are located about a kilometer west of the village of Vrav. The site was a little rectangular fortification (castle), whose longer walls were along the river, unlike the typical Roman castrums which were built much farther towards the shore and elongated sides were placed perpendicular to the river. Near the castle there was small settlement (vikus), whose population was Romanized.
Dortikum fortress was built to defend the northwestern frontier of the Roman Empire, gradually turned into local customs and trade center. The castle was repeatedly attacked and ravaged by different tribes - Dacians, Goths, Huns, Avars and Slavs, and then was restored again by the Romans. The castle ceased to exist with the decline of the Western Roman Empire. In VIII - X century at it place arose a little Slavonic-Bulgarian settlement.
Unfortunately nowadays, despite it is declared a monument of culture, there is no much remains of the castle of Dortikum. Part of it was carried away by the Danube and the rest was dug and destructed by treasure hunters.
Dortikum fortress was built to defend the northwestern frontier of the Roman Empire, gradually turned into local customs and trade center. The castle was repeatedly attacked and ravaged by different tribes - Dacians, Goths, Huns, Avars and Slavs, and then was restored again by the Romans. The castle ceased to exist with the decline of the Western Roman Empire. In VIII - X century at it place arose a little Slavonic-Bulgarian settlement.
Unfortunately nowadays, despite it is declared a monument of culture, there is no much remains of the castle of Dortikum. Part of it was carried away by the Danube and the rest was dug and destructed by treasure hunters.
