Medieval Fortified Town of Cherven

The medieval town-fortress Cherven is located about 30 kilometers south of Ruse, within the nature park Rusenski Lom. The city is the successor of a Byzantine fortress from the VI century and flourished in the XIV century. The medieval settlement included an inner city-citadel on a high rocky plateau, an outer city and unfortified suburbs.
Cherven is one of the important administrative and cultural centers of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XII-XIV centuries), as well as an important road stop on the roads from the Danube to the interior. After the restoration of the Bulgarian Patriarchate in 1235, the Metropolitanate of Cherven was founded, as a result of which the spiritual development of the whole region increased.
Several rock monasteries were founded in its vicinity. In 1388 it was captured and destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. In the initial period of Ottoman rule, it retained its administrative functions, but gradually declined.
Archaeological excavations in the area have uncovered a castle, fortress walls, two underground water supply passages, 16 churches, public and administrative buildings, many homes and other interesting and significant finds – several coin treasures, jewelry, monuments, pottery, household items, handicraft tools. , armaments, etc.
Visiting the site can only be done by car or on foot. A walk through the medieval ruins can be combined with sightseeing of the natural landmarks in the nature park, many of which have eco-routes. The beautiful Orlova Chuka cave is also nearby. Not far away are two other interesting sites – Ivanovo rock-hewn churches, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Basarbovo Monastery – the only active rock monastery in Bulgaria.
The medieval town of Cherven was declared an archeological reserve by Decision № 953 of the Council of Ministers in 1997.

Monday – Sunday
9:00 – 18:00

Along the way from Sofia to Ruse, turn to the village of Ivanovo at the road turn for Dve Mogili. After that follow the designative board signs and this way you will reach the cave Orlova Chuka and the Cherven fortress.

Tour guides offer guided tours only in Bulgarian language on site.

Upon visiting sites of this kind, it is advisable to put on comfortable low shoes, because the walk around the ruins often passes through non-developed pathways.

Tourist Information Center – Ruse

Monday – Friday
09:00 – 18:00
Saturday
09:30 – 18:00

7000 Ruse Center, 61 Aleksandrovska Str

Tel: +359 82 824 704
Email: office@visitruse.info
Website: http://www.visitruse.info/

Tourist Information Center – Ivanovo

Monday – Sunday
8:00 – 17:00

7088 Ivanovo, 75 Olimpiyska Str

Tel: +359 8116 22 85
E-mail:
tic@ivanovo.bg
turinfo@ivanovo.bg

Tel: +359 82 825 002
Website: https://www.museumruse.com/