Skip the Line: Medieval Tuida Fortress tours

5 Reviews 4.20 out of 5 stars Based on 5 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures® and TripAdvisor | Sliven, Bulgaria

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 33 (0) days in advance.

1 day (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English
and 6 more
French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian

Overview

Тhe Tuida Fortress is a Late Roman, Early Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian fortress located on the Hisarlaka Hill in the eastern Bulgarian city of Sliven. It's a must see attraction offering plenty of activities inside. We welcome you!

What's Included

  • Guiding (if this option is booked)
  • Archery & medieval dresses (if this option is booked)
  • Taking photos
  • Food, drinks and personal expenses
See 1 moreSee 1 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Medieval Tuida Fortress
Hisarlaka, Sliven 8800, Bulgaria

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your adventure begins.
Read more

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Medieval Tuida Fortress

The Tuida Fortress avoided destruction during the invasion of the Goths in 378 AD but was destroyed in the invasions of the Huns in the 5th century AD. It was rebuilt during the reign of Roman Emperor Anastasius I (r. 491-518 AD), preserving but also enhancing the original architecture of the fortress. The Tuida Fortress was ultimately destroyed around 598-599 AD, most probably during an invasion of Avars and Slavs.The territory around today’s Bulgarian city of Sliven was made part of Bulgaria, i.e. of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD), around 705 AD when Bulgarian Khan (or Kanas) Tervel gained the Zagore Region south of the Balkan Mountains after he helped Byzantine Emperor Justinian II the Slit-nosed (Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus) (r. 685-695 and 705-711 AD) regain his throne in Constantinople. Thus, a Bulgarian settlement, whose name remains unknown, was built on the place of the Tuida Fortress. A lead seal of Bulgarian Knyaz Boris I Mihail (r. 852-889 AD) has been found there.The Bulgarians rebuilt the fortress walls and the aquaduct of Tuida, and erected new buildings inside the fortress that were covered with marble slabs produced by stone cutters in the then Bulgarian capital Veliki Preslav (“Great Preslav”). Several bricks with an Ancient Bulgar sign (resembling “|Y|") have been found there. Written sources indicated that Tuida was the seat of a bishop from the 4th century AD onwards.After the original excavations of the Tuida Fortress first started in 1982, they were resumed in 2004. The archaeological finds there include, in addition to Knyaz Boris I’s lead seal, a number of iron tools, ceramic vessels, ornaments, coins, and bones from 14 species of wild and domesticated birds including Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata), western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), great bustard (Otis tarda), and common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus).The archaeological excavations have revealed the fortress walls of Tuida, fortress towers and gates, remains of buildings, two marble pedestals dedicated to gods Apollo and Zeus which contain the name of the fortress as Tuida or Suida (known in written sources as Tsoida), a 3rd century AD inscription describing the settlement as a market place, a cult complex used between the 4th and the 13th century consisting of a three-nave one-apse Early Christian basilica and a unique baptistery decorated with murals and mosaics.The ruins of a larger basilica have been found outside the fortress walls (which encompassed an area of about 40 decares (app. 10 acres)) which is taken to mean that the settlement was not confined by the fortified area but spanned outside of it.
Read more

Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please, wear comfortable shoes.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Skip the Line: Medieval Tuida Fortress tours?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the adventure for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the adventure start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the adventure start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the adventure start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the adventure local time (EEST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the adventure for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-8728P261

Reviews

4.20
5 reviews

Average 4.20 out of 5 stars based on 5 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures® and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
4
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 33 (0) days in advance.

Similar Adventures & Tours

Help the hosts: Breadmaking, Yoghurt making and Cattle Keeping
Special Offer
Special Offer

Wonderful experience with local hosts. Learn how to make traditional Bulgarian bread and yoghurt. Help the locals with the cattle. Merge yourself with the locals...

1 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
1 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
1 to 3 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (2)
$68.80
$67.80

Private Action Day Karting & Paintball & Buggies
Special Offer
Special Offer

Let`s head out for some wild and wacky fun! Off road fun on wheels and some adventures are waiting for us! Take an unbelievable experience...

2 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
2 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
2 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (2)
$162.09
$161.09

Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi day tour from Sofia with pickup
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Visit ¨the City of Tsars¨ with the most impressive medieval fortress in Bulgaria. Take the advantage of this small-group tour with free hotel pickup....

10 to 11 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
10 to 11 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
10 to 11 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.9 (17)
$99.12
$98.12

Thracian Tombs Tour in the Valley of the Thracian Kings
Special Offer
Special Offer

The Thracian tombs and sanctuaries are the only almost entirely preserved representatives of the monumental cult architecture of the ancient Thracians. The main merit of...

2 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 4 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (1)
$45.48
$44.48

Adventurers Who Bought This Adventure Also Bought

Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi day tour from Sofia with pickup
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Visit ¨the City of Tsars¨ with the most impressive medieval fortress in Bulgaria. Take the advantage of this small-group tour with free hotel pickup....

10 to 11 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
10 to 11 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
10 to 11 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.9 (17)
$99.12
$98.12

Private Access Rose Festival Kazanlak 05-07.06.2025
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

The first festival took place more than 100 years ago, in 1903. Today the Rose Festival is an international event, visited and enjoyed by thousands...

10 hours
10 hours
10 hours
4.3 (6)
$103.78
$102.78

Thracian Tombs Tour in the Valley of the Thracian Kings
Special Offer
Special Offer

The Thracian tombs and sanctuaries are the only almost entirely preserved representatives of the monumental cult architecture of the ancient Thracians. The main merit of...

2 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 4 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (1)
$45.48
$44.48

Help the hosts: Breadmaking, Yoghurt making and Cattle Keeping
Special Offer
Special Offer

Wonderful experience with local hosts. Learn how to make traditional Bulgarian bread and yoghurt. Help the locals with the cattle. Merge yourself with the locals...

1 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
1 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
1 to 3 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (2)
$68.80
$67.80

What's Included

Activity name

  • Guiding (if this option is booked)
  • Archery & medieval dresses (if this option is booked)
  • Taking photos
  • E-guide
  • Food, drinks and personal expenses

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please, wear comfortable shoes.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the adventure for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the adventure start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the adventure start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the adventure start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the adventure local time (EEST).

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Top10Adventures® wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Top10Adventures® over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.