A Citadel Beyond Time
Perched atop the rugged slopes of Krushevski Hill, just 4 kilometers northwest of Sevlievo, the ruins of Hotalich Fortress peer solemnly over the Rositsa River Gorge. What began as a humble Byzantine outpost in the 5th–6th century evolved into a formidable Bulgarian citadel—guarding borders, trade routes, and the shifting tides of history.
The Rise and Role of Hotalich
From Frontier Bastion to Regional Guardian
Revived in the 10th century by the Bulgarian state, Hotalich emerged as part of a defensive network standing between the imperial centers of Tarnovo and Lovech. Though not a capital, it was strategically vital, sitting near a secondary Roman road that ran along the Rositsa River—diverging southward from the great highways of Nicopolis ad Istrum.
For centuries, it served as a watchful sentinel, resisting northern incursions and southern ambitions from Byzantium, persisting until the late 1600s.
In the Ottoman Record: Names and Displacement
Ottoman records began to mention Hotalich in the mid-16th century as a “nahiya” and later, in a 1618 document, as the “kaza of Hotalich.” Some texts describe it as “also known as Servi”—a name that would gradually morph into Selvi or Sevlievo.
The original hilltop stronghold was eventually abandoned, likely after Ottoman conquest. Survivors resettled Lower Hotalich, a riverside village that flourished into what we now know as Sevlievo. The new town absorbed the population and prominence of the old fortress, becoming a vibrant center of trade, governance, and culture.
Rediscovering Hotalich: A Fortress Buried in Time
Until the 1970s, the fortress’s location was lost to history. Archaeologist Simeon Simeonov deduced that if Hotalich and Sevlievo once coexisted, the fortress must lie close to the modern town. He pinpointed the western edge of Krushevski Hill—a naturally fortified ridge—as the site. Excavations began in 1981, revealing stone by stone the forgotten city.
Stone Remnants of a Lively Medieval City
Architecture, Streets, and Sanctity
Excavations uncovered 86 stone buildings, scattered across both the inner fortress and the sprawling outer town. Defensive walls carved from chiseled stone and lime mortar enclosed both sections. Due to the steep incline, many houses were semi-dug into the northern slope, while the southern façades rose above ground.
There were four distinct neighborhoods, divided by walls radiating from the southern rampart. Among them stood three churches—one partially built atop a 5th-century early Byzantine basilica, another restored during Ottoman times, and a third in the eastern quarter. Cemeteries surrounded these sanctuaries, yielding over 130 graves, including children and richly adorned women.
The fortified outer town featured:
- Five main gates
- Watchtowers
- Craft workshops (blacksmiths, armorers, ceramic kilns)
- Stone-paved homes, often one or two stories, without gaps between buildings
- Wells and pits to collect rainwater for artisans
The Fortress Core: Stronghold of the Nobility
A Castle in the Sky
At the heart of Hotalich stood its citadel, enclosed by walls up to 10 meters tall and 2 meters thick, with towering bastions guarding vulnerable eastern and western approaches.
Within the citadel were:
- A noble’s residence, asymmetrically shaped to fit the cliffside
- A private family chapel, modest but wide enough for a ruling household
- Barracks and granaries
- A rare water reservoir, a critical feature lacking in many medieval Bulgarian fortresses
Even remnants of a clay pipeline were discovered—evidence of sophisticated engineering. Only a select few lived within these walls: the noble family, clergy, guards, and servants.
Unearthed Treasures: Echoes of Everyday Life
Coins, Ornaments, and Ceramics
Over 900 artifacts have been catalogued from the site and are now preserved at the Historical Museum of Sevlievo. The findings range from:
- Clay cooking vessels (12th–13th century)
- Byzantine-era ceramics
- Household tools: knives, spindle whorls, loom weights, nails
- And most striking of all—a treasure hoard of 2,944 copper coins, minted in Constantinople during the 12th century, along with 146 Bulgarian coins
This sheer volume of currency suggests that Hotalich was not merely a backwater garrison, but a thriving commercial center connected to the broader economies of Byzantium and the Latin Empire.
Jewels of the Departed: Burial Rites and Status Symbols
Ornaments found in the necropolises speak volumes of medieval fashion and hierarchy. Among the discoveries:
- Grapevine-shaped earrings from the 9th–11th centuries
- Necklaces with multi-colored beads and bronze lunar pendants
- Bronze torques, worn around the neck as badges of honor
- Wired diadems wrapped in fabric, found on a young woman’s skull
- Bracelets, rings, and ear cuffs, meticulously crafted and often buried with the deceased
Each item tells a story—not just of personal identity, but of an era’s artistry, belief systems, and social order.
Hotalich Today: A Heritage Reawakened
Though centuries of silence buried its name, Hotalich Fortress lives again—its stones uncovered, its secrets deciphered, and its memory revived. Once a sentinel of the Bulgarian frontier, it is now a bridge to the past, inviting modern visitors to walk paths once trodden by nobles, soldiers, and humble villagers.
From a forgotten fortress to a beacon of historical revival, Hotalich stands not as a ruin, but as a resilient monument to the soul of medieval Bulgaria.