Samuel's Fortress, Ohrid

For other places of the same name, see Samuel's Fortress (disambiguation)

Samuel's Fortress
Ohrid, North Macedonia
The fortress of Tsar Samuel by night
Samuel's Fortress
Coordinates	41.115°N 20.791°E / 41.115; 20.791
Type	Castle
Site information
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	4th century B.C.
Built by	Original ruins: Philip II of Macedon Current fortress: Tsar Samuil
Materials	Limestone

Samuel's Fortress (Macedonian: Самуилова тврдина, romanized: Samuilova tvrdina, Template:Lang-bg) is a fortress in the old town of Ohrid, North Macedonia. It was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire during the rule of Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria at the turn of the 11th century. Today, this historical monument is a major tourist attraction and was heavily restored in 2003 with the addition of entirely new battlements where none had survived.

According to recent excavations by Macedonian archaeologists, it was contended that this fortress was built on the place of an earlier fortification, dated to the 4th century BC, which was probably built by King Philip II of Macedon. During the late 900s, King Samuil of Bulgaria restored the fortress by rebuilding it into a medieval style stronghold which still stands as is today.

Gallery

• 
  Samuil's Fortress over the old town in Ohrid
• 
  Interior of the fortress
• 
  Interior of the fortress
• 
  Upper Gate of the fortress
• 
  Fortress wall in the winter
• 
  Map of the Samuil's Fortress
• 
  Castle of Samuil in Ohrid, reconstruction
• 
  Macedonian flag in Samoil Fortress
• 
  View of the Ohrid lake from the fortress
• 
  Front gate to the fortress
• 
  Recycled stones dating from antiquity used in the construction of the upper gate. One of the stones has a fragment of an ancient Greek inscription
• 
  Ancient golden burial mask and the golden hand discovered in the palace area

See also

• List of castles in North Macedonia