Ohridskata tvrdina, Republika Makedonija

Since the 5th century it is mentioned, by the Roman historians, as a well fortified city with numerous towers, which like the other Roman cities protected itself from the invasion of the wandering tribes. In the 497 it repulsed the siege of the Gothic king Theodore.
	A view to Samoil's fortress

The Slavic tribes enter the city without much destruction, and in the 10th century, Ohrid as the Throne City of the Macedonian czar Samuil, had renovated many solid fortresses. The present shape of the fortress is from the age of reign of czar Samuil, although there are some mentions in the history sources of certain ruination by Basil II and some later conquerors.

The final ruler of the fortress was Jeladin Bey /1800-1830/, who tore away from the Osmanic government and reigned the city as a sole feudal lord. He left traces on this fortress of the bloody forced labour.

The highest part of Ohrid, which 100 meters above the lake level is taken by the central part with walls 10-16 meters high and with defense towers. The entrance in the central part is a large gate with two semi-circular towers. One part of the external wall is descending to the west in Labino, and the other leg crosses over the external " Upper Gate" and overtakes the locality Deboy, and further south obliquely descends towards the lake. In the locality Deboy is the third gate, and then ensues the Frontal gate, near the today’s church Holy Mother of God Frontal, and about twenty meters from the coast of the Ohrid Lake is the Lower gate.

The present appearance of the fortress is with 18 towers, three of which are semi-circular and 15 square with four great gates.

Just as we mentioned the fortress suffered through numerous corrections, most of which are visible on the Upper Gate where many marble tablets are built in with Greek and Roman inscriptions, which originate from the antique and roman buildings, which fill this area.

This year the Ministry of culture and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia gave Ohrid the greatest priority, including huge financial means for the protection, research and revitalization of the cultural monuments. A special point is given to the eight year adopted project programme, for the fortress of czar Samoil. It is worked with great effort on the total discovering of all of the cultural layers in the northern part of the interior of the fortress.

All rights reserved. Any reproduction of the content or any of its parts or any modification, in any form or by any method, known or yet to be invented, for any use besides private, without prior written permission by the authors is prohibited.