Samuel's Fortress, Ohrid

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

Samuel's Fortress (Macedonian: Самуилова тврдина, romanized: Samuilova tvrdina, Bulgarian: Самуилова крепост, romanized: Samuilova krepost) is a fortress in the old town of Ohrid, North Macedonia. It was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire^[1] 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.

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

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.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Samuil's Fortress over the old town in Ohrid
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  Interior of the fortress
• 
  Interior of the fortress
• 
  Upper Gate of the fortress
• 
  Fortress wall in the winter
• 
  Map of Samuil's Fortress
• 
  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