LATE ANTIQUITY CITY “NICOPOLIS AD NESTUM”

“Nicopolis ad Nestum” is one of the three cities on the Balkan Peninsula founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan I in honor of his victory over the Dacians in 106 AD.

Named “The City of the Victory at Mesta” it is remembered as the City of Mesta (in Latin: „ Nikopolis ad Nestum“). The ancient city is situated on an area of 13 hectares in the southern part of the village of Garmen. Founded after the middle of the 11th century and inhabited for more than 14 centuries, the most intense life there was during the late antiquity (IV-VI c.). At the end of the 6th century Slavs and Avars attacked Nicopolis ad Nestum and destroyed it. In the 9th – 10th century the town was revived under the name of Nikopol and existed until the 13th century when it was again ruined at the crusades. In the Late Middle Ages part of the site was occupied by a Bulgarian settlement, and in the southeastern part of the fortified city – by a Turkish farm. During the Ottoman rule, the urban settlement shifted a few kilometers to the west to Nevrokop (present Gotse Delchev), but still kept its name. 

The excavations revealed 280 m of fortress walls, foundations of public and cult buildings, tombstones. Fragments of vowing relief of Thracian Rider, a statuette of Hermes, an old Christian tombstone, more than 95 gold and about 22 other coins, glass, bronze and ceramic vessels, a gold ring and others were found there. Close to the fortified city, two Early Christian basilicas from the 4th century were also found. 

Nicopolis ad Nestrum is priceless treasure because it is one of the few preserved ancient cities in Bulgaria and the only one on the territory of the Rhodopes from the period of Roman rule in the Balkans. Today, it has been declared an archaeological and architectural monument from antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Project “Restoration, Conservation and Socialization of Late-Antique City” Nikopolis Ad Nestum “, co-financed under OPRD 2007-2013

Additional information
Services: The Tourist Information Center at the site has:
A pottery workshop, where each visitor can produce by himself a souvenir or some tools and pots of clay under the guidance of a master potter.
Organized representations of scenes from ancient Roman life
Wardrobe with clothes typical of the ancient Romans in the 1-2 century and exact copies of the weapons of that time.
Organized bow shootings.
Retro train tour to and back from the mineral baths in the nearby village of Ognyanovo. The retro train makes two courses on Saturdays and Sundays – one in the morning and one in the evening at the following prices: for adults – 3 BGN, for children – 1 BGN.
Provision of a guide.
Entrance fees: for adults – 2 BGN, for children – 1 BGN

Opening time: From 1 November to 31 March: from 8:00 to 12:00 o’clock, from 13:00 to 17:00 o’clock.
From 1 April to 31 October: from 8:00 to 12:00, and from 13:00 to 21:00 o’clock.
For group visits and organize representations contact in advance with the site.