Perperikon is a Thracian city carved into a hill of pale rock, believed to have been a great sanctuary. It is the largest megalith complex in the Balkans, and still being dug.
( at a glance )
Perperikon, in a few lines
01
On a rocky hill 470 metres high, about 15 km north-east of Kardzhali
02
People have lived here since about 5000 BC
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A round altar, almost 2 metres across, hewn from the rock
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Thought to have been the site of a famous temple of Dionysus, with an oracle
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A palace of several storeys and a fortress with walls up to 2.8 metres thick, from Roman times
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The foundations of a church, with a carved pulpit, from the late 4th or early 5th century
( the place )
About Perperikon
From the first Bronze Age traces to the church of the fourth century, Perperikon has been added to and ruined and rebuilt for thousands of years. The Thracians cut steps and channels and rooms straight into the stone. The Romans built a palace and a fortress around it. In the Middle Ages it was a fortress again.
Excavations began in 2000, led by the archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov, and what has come out is a whole complex: temples, streets, houses, and the walls. It is thought to be where Medokos declared himself king of Thrace in 424 BC. Standing on the rock, with the Rhodope hills all round, it is easy to see why people thought of it as a holy place.
go for
The oldest and strangest place in the Rhodopes
Walking on the rock at the end of the day, when it is quiet
It is thought to have been, but this is a belief and not a proven fact. Archaeologists have found a great rock sanctuary and an altar, and ancient writers speak of a famous temple of Dionysus in these mountains.
How long do I need?
Two hours on the site is enough; half a day with the drive from Kardzhali.
Is it good with children?
Yes, if they like climbing, but keep a close hand near the edges.
Photographs are openly licensed from Wikimedia Commons and credited under each one.
( need a hand? )
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