Medieval Fortress near the village of Mezek

Near the village of Mezek (Svilengrad Municipality), on the Kaleto hill stand the ruins of a medieval Byzantine fortress - Neutzikon - from the end of the 11th century AD. It is the best preserved defensive installation in the Rhodope mountain.

Objects, dating back to the 11th century were found during several archaeological excavations. The fortress is believed to be constructed during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus (1081 – 1117). The fortress walls surround an area of about 7 decares in the shape of an irregular rectangle with sizes of 110/60 meters and are built of stones, soldered with white plaster, decorated with three brick bands on the outside.

The main entrance was arranged the way that the attackers would fall into a trap on a small site, shot from two sides. The corner tower between the southern and western fortress walls is one of the largest size and it is best preserved. There are traces of four floors. There is a narrow opening designed for defense even when the attackers penetrated the area protected by the walls of the fortress. In this way, the tower was designed to perform the function of the fortified tower - the last shelter for the defenders of the fort.

Availability for visits: Yes, Paid, all year round, available guide

Transport accessibility: Road

Tourist infrastructure: Yes - hotels, restaurants