# Kipilovo Fortress fort

- **Country:** Bulgaria
- **Notes:** The fortress of '''Kipilovo''' () was one of the Byzantine Empire's military fortresses built to defend Constantinople . The ruins of the fortress are located on Mount Hissarluka - 3.4 km south in a straight line from the center of the village Kipilovo, Sliven Province, Bulgaria.

Kipilovo Fortress, also known locally as Kipilovo Kale, is a historic military structure situated on Mount Hisarlaka within the Balkan Mountains of central Bulgaria. Located approximately 3.4 kilometers south of the village of Kipilovo in Sliven Province, the site sits at specific coordinates that place it strategically within the mountainous terrain. The fortress was originally constructed in the late sixth century by the Byzantine Empire as a critical component of a defensive network designed to protect Constantinople from barbarian incursions originating from the north. Its historical significance extends through the centuries, as it remained an active military installation until the era of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Some historians, notably the Škorpil brothers, have suggested that this site corresponds to the ancient fortress of Kirpillon Pelon, which likely influenced the modern name of the nearby village.

Architecturally, the fortress displays distinct Byzantine engineering characteristics, utilizing the opus mixtum technique combined with red plaster for its construction. The structure features an irregular trapezoidal shape with a wide base facing the southeast, spanning a length of 181 meters and a maximum width of 59 meters, covering a total area of roughly 8,000 square meters. The defensive walls were formidable, measuring 2.5 meters in thickness and reaching heights between eight and ten meters in certain sections. Inside the perimeter, remnants of various buildings survive, including guard dwellings with visible conical loopholes and entrances. The site also contains evidence of sophisticated water management systems, such as an artificially carved pool in the southern rocks and a smaller tank in the center, alongside the foundations of a potential chapel oriented east to west.

Today, Kipilovo Fortress exists in a state of ruin, with the entire interior area largely overgrown by trees and shrubs. Despite the passage of time and lack of recent excavation, three of the original entrances remain well-preserved, offering a glimpse into its past grandeur. A partially preserved stone road, approximately four to five meters wide, can still be traced outside the fortress walls. While no extensive modern restoration has been undertaken, the site retains significant archaeological value, with walls in the northwestern section still standing up to two meters high. It currently serves as a historical landmark within Sliven Province, representing a tangible link to the region's complex military history and Byzantine heritage, though it requires further study to fully confirm theories regarding its internal religious structures.

![Photo of Kipilovo Fortress fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Kipilovo_Fortress.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kipilovo_Fortress (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)