Samuel's Fortress

The ruins of the castle of Tsar Samuil (Bulgaria) (958-1014), built on the walls of an ancient fortress, dominate the city today

The shape of the Samuil Fortress dates back to the time of Samuil, although there are also data on demolitions and repairs of the fortress by the Turks and Byzantines. It features walls ranging from 10 to 16 meters high and several meters thick. On all sides, except the south, facing the lake, the hilly part of the city near the port of Ohrid was protected by three kilometers long high walls and towers. With its fortifications and walls, it covers the entire Ohrid hill. Today, 18 towers and four gates remain from the fortress. Parts of the fortress extend to the lake and to the lower hill of the Old Town of Ohrid. There were three gates in the Old Town, of which only the Upper Gate survived. In its walls, many stones with Greek inscriptions are built in. Under a partially demolished outer layer in the inner walls, horizontal layers of bricks in the Byzantine format can be seen.