Fortress Assara, Nikolaevo

Asara Fortress is early Byzantine fortress, located north of town of Nikolaevo, at hill with the same name (Asara). The castle had a great strategic location and an excellent visibility in all directions. Its main task was to guard the pass "Hainboaz". The fortress was with three rows of walls and the only other fortress in Bulgaria with three rows of walls was "Tsarevets". The walls were built in the early Byzantine period (V-VI century) by method "Opus implektum", with facial and sandy limestone blocks and ceramic elements in the mortar bond. Near the fortress is situated the cave "Tsarka dupka", which, in the past, was used as a secret exit from the fortress. After archeological excavations in the region were found traces of stone buildings, medieval weapons, vessels and ceramic elements from different eras - XII-th century BC (Early Iron Age), II-IV century, V-VI century, XI-XII century and XIII-XIV century. On the eastern slope of the "Asara" hill were found foundations of church.