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The town used to be the main political,
military, economic and cultural centre from the foundation
of the Bulgarian State in 681 till 893. Pliska is also
among the most impressive monuments of Medieval European
town-planning. Situated at a crossroad amidst a vast plain
of rolling hills, the first capital of the Bulgarian State
was protected with strong fortress walls. The location
of the city was not left to the blind chance. Being a
people of the steppes, the ancient Bulgarians preferred
level terrains to put up their camps and settlements.
The defense fortifications comprised three rings. |
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outermost was a deep and wide moat, the middle one - a
rampart whose thick stone walls once rose up to 12 metres
in some places, and the innermost - a fortress built up
of clay bricks.
Researchers have found three stages in the development of the ancient Bulgarian capital.
Khan Kroum’s Palace was built on an area
of 500 square metres and is a remarkable architectural
monument of the first stage. |
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There were secret passages and tunnels for the inhabitants to leave the town in case of emergency. The
Palace had its own big water reservoir and baths modern for that time.
The second stage marked the peak of town design and construction. That was the time when Khan Omourtag ruled. Dating
back to that period are the fortress walls, the so-called Small Palace with houses for the members of the royal family, the new
baths with an intricate heating system, two pagan shrines and the richly decorated Throne Hall.
The third construction stage includes early Christian buildings
of worship with impressive size. The most impressive architectural
monument of that time is the Grand Basilica.
With its 2920 square metres it was the largest Christian church
on the Balkan Peninsula for its time. The imposing three-nave
basilica was 100 metres long and 30 metres wide. It was in the
centre of a monastery complex of sophisticated architecture.
Pliska is the town where the Christian faith was adopted as an official religion of the Bulgarian people in the 9th century. In the
year 886 Prince Boris I received here the disciples of the creators of the Slav Alphabet the brothers Cyril and Methodius.
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