Baba Vida

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Shortened history of the castle:

Baba Vida is a medieval fortress in Vidin in northwestern Bulgaria. It consists of two fundamental walls and four towers and is said to be the only entirely preserved medieval castle in the country.

The construction of the fortress began in the 10th century on the site of an Ancient Roman watchtower. The building of Baba Vida is tied to a legend, according to which a Danubian Bulgarian king who ruled at Vidin had three daughters: Vida, Kula and Gamza. After his death, his possessions were split between his three daughters Vida, Kula and Gamza. The two younger sisters - Kula and Gamza - married hastily to thoughtless husbands, who wasted their father's heritage. The oldest one - Vida remained alone for the rest of her life. She ordered the construction of a castle, in which she was living till the end of her life, defending successfully her serfs, feudals and land. The grateful local people gave to the castle the name "Baba Vida", meaning "Granny Vida".

Baba Vida served as Vidin's main defensive installation during the course of the Middle Ages and acted as the most important fortress of northwestern Bulgaria. The Baba Vida stronghold stood an eight-month-long siege by Byzantine forces led by Basil II, but was destroyed and once again erected during the rule of Ivan Stratsimir, as whose capital it served.

In 1388, the Ottomans invaded Sratsimir's lands and forced him to become their vassal. In 1396, he joined an anti-Ottoman crusade led by the King of Hungary, Sigismund, placing his resources at the crusaders' disposal. The crusade ended in the disastrous Battle of Nicopolis at Nikopol, Bulgaria, with the Ottomans capturing most of Sratsimir's domains shortly thereafter, in 1397.

The fortress played a significant role during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, serving as a weapon warehouse and a prison, as it has been no longer used for defensive purposes since the end of the 18th century.

Opening times and additional information:

Summer working time:
working days - 9am to 5.30pm
weekends, holidays - 8.30am to 5.30pm

Winter working time:
working days - 10am to 5pm
weekends, holidays - 9am to 5pm