Castles of "Bulgaria" LOVECH FORTRESS CASTLE vs USTRA CASTLE

Lovech Castle or Hisarja Fortress is an ancient citadel that stands on two terraces of Hisarya Hill that overlooks the city so you won't miss it. Hisarya Fortress was first erected in 4000- 3000 BC (Chalcolithic Age) by first Neolithic settlers who recognized strategic location of this hill. This natural formation has high cliffs and steep slopes. Additionally river provided first settlers with water and natural defenses against sudden and unexpected attacks from an enemy. First people constructed very simple wooden walls to protect their village, but given natural landscape it was more than enough for their security. Archaeologists discovered ruins of houses, pieces of pottery, golden jewelry and other artifacts.

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Ustra (Bulgarian: Устра) is a castle in the eastern Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria. Its ruins lie 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of the village of Ustren situated on a hill at approximately 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level. The fortress was built in the 10th century AD to protect an important trade route. It was taken by the armies of Simeon the Great (893-927), but after his death, it was among the lands given back to Byzantium in return for recognition of the imperial title of the Bulgarian rulers. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, it frequently changed hands between the two empires, but the Byzantines held it most of the time. The ruins are located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the road between Ustren and Zlatograd. There is a hut of the same name nearby. The height of the surviving walls is 10 metres (33 ft).

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