Southern Fortress Wall and Tower

The Southern Fortress Wall and Tower of Sozopol

At the edge of Sozopol's old town, one of the oldest settlements on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, a restored stretch of the medieval defensive wall survives together with a tower. Sozopol — ancient Apollonia, a Greek colony founded in the 6th century BC — was always a fortified port town, and these defences tell the story of the centuries when the peninsula had to be guarded from the sea. The reconstruction here gives the visitor a tangible picture of how the fortress once looked.

What to see

Beyond the massive stone wall and the tower commanding the rocky shore, the site often includes a display on the town's history, with finds and objects discovered in the area. From the tower's ramparts a wide view opens over the sea and the tiled rooftops of the old town. Around it, narrow lanes are lined with traditional timber-and-stone houses typical of Black Sea architecture, many now turned into workshops, galleries and small restaurants.

Practical

You reach it on foot, strolling through the old town, set on a narrow peninsula. Sozopol lies south of Burgas, accessible by bus or car; car parks sit at the entrance to the historic quarter. The finest light is toward sunset, when the stone takes on warm tones. Combine the visit with a walk through the whole old town, its churches and its rocky cliffs. For opening hours and any admission fee, check on site.