The legend of Galla Placidia „…the daughter of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, Galla Placidia prepared herself for a long trip seeking to release her son from captivity in Ravenna, leaving Constantinople and setting off to Rome. Before leaving, she spoke with her older brother Honorius, who was deathly ill. Her brother’s advice was:

You will travel for several days until you get to Augusta Traiana (city of Stara Zagora nowadays), then you will pass through Philippopolis (city of Plovdiv) and before you reach Serdica (city of Sofia) you should make a stop in the south. At the foot of four mountains and along the river Palacharia, named in honor of our country Pulcheria, you will find a true paradise with miraculous

healing water. Relax there, dive in the healing springs and fill in all your amphorae with this wonderful water. You will get strong and healthy, and your mission will get into success.” So it happened. The army of Galla Placidia seized Ravenna and freed the infant son Valentinian who was proclaimed as emperor.”

This legend was written in the second tower of the ancient medieval fortress of Tsari Mali Grad, dated 4-5 century. The ruins of this fortress were found in 2007, and restored shortly after that, showing the glamour of the stone fortress erected on St. Spas hill near the village of Balchin, less than 50 km from the capital city of Sofia.

Now the fortress can compete with the majestic Tsarevets castle in Veliko Tarnovo. The name Tsari Mali Grad, supposedly means Little Tsarigrad (Istanbul nowadays). Just in front of the castle stands the church “Ascension”, built over the ruins of a great Christian religious complex. Today the church is open for visitors, just like the castle, which is turned into museum with various expositions

In one of the towers the miracle of Tsari Mali Grad is presented as sacred geometry, where the ancient town is located in the center, equidistant from the Cherni vrah (the highest peak of Vitosha mountain), Musala (the highest peak of Rila mountain, Rila monastery, Urvich fortress, the monastery of St. St. Peter and Paul, the monastery of St. Elijah and the plate of god Mithras near Bosnek village. The fresh clean air here makes it easy to believe into sanctity of this place and the surrounding area.

From the hill there are wonderful panoramic views of the village of Balchin and the slopes of Vitosha mountain. The climb to the castle can be done through well-defined forest trails or by the panoramic funicular, who can transport up to 8 people at a time.

For younger visitors there is a wonderful playground behind the fortress with variety of attractions, including one particularly amusing swinging rope bridge.

You should not miss also the sights under the hill just like St. Petka church, whose icons are completely restored, but preserved the inspiration of the centuries, or the bell tower and museum next to it.

After a long tour you can pamper yourself in one of the outdoor thermal pools in Balchin bany, or if you prefer more luxurious treatment then stay in Balchin Garden Hotel**** which has four mineral pools, excellent spa facilities, including a Roman bath, Finnish sauna, steam bath and more. The rooms are spacious and the restaurant – excellent.

Once a great fortress settlement, then a peaceful village, today the ancient glory of Balchin is raised again as impressive medieval fortress and healing mineral water resort.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BELCHIN:

Location: Small village in western Bulgaria, Samokov province
Area: 35  sq.km
Population:  413 people
Official language: Bulgarian
Elevation: 988 m
Climate: humid continental climate
Time zone: UTC+02:00
Currency: lev (BGN)