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Medieval fortress - Monyak
Author: Д. Колева, 7.3 km From Kardzhali. , Адрес: Kardzhali, с. Широко поле, GPS coordinates: N 41.6241907 E 25.4577241
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In the Eastern Rhodopes, 7 km east of the town of Kardzhali is the remains of one of the majestic medieval castles - Monyak. Built on a rocky peak called "Sixth fortress" in XII-XIII century the first information about Monyak appear during the Third Crusade, where the Knights succeeded in capturing the fortress, which was then an important strategic site of the Byzantine Empire. After passing the Crusades, Byzantium managed again to regain control of the fortress, but only to retreat again in 1204, after the Fourth Crusade.
From the written evidence available to us, means that Monyak is the highest fortress in the Rhodope Mountains and occupied an area of 50 acres. An old fortress retained fraction, but enough to show its greatness in the Middle Ages. Lovely is part of an eight-tower that reaches up to 3 m high, and the remains of a considerable size citadel. To the west building had probably two floors ground floor was dug out of the rock and the top is supported by four square columns and the floor is level with the rock. There are, sitting in two large underground cisterns and warehouses for storing food.
The inner wall of the fortress, as in most medieval buildings, is built of stone blocks joined with plaster traces the outline of the rock. The entrance to the fort is on the west side, and to him are two guard towers. Monyak was home to military garrisons, but it opened the doors for people living under them in case of danger.
According to Villehardouin Geoffroy famous, famous, medieval chronicler and Marshal in Monyak, Crusaders learned of the death of Emperor Baudouin Flanders. It conducts Baron Board, which is elected the new Emperor of the Latins, namely Henry.
In the following centuries, at the height of the Second Bulgarian Empire, Monyak was Bulgarian frontier territory and keeping her Bulgarian lands of the Byzantine raids.
Road to Monyak is extremely picturesque, describes the magnificent view of the hills of the Western Rhodopes, the beautiful lake Studen well and beautiful valley of the Arda River.
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