Medieval Fortress Bovan

Bovan, Serbia, Serbia

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Medieval Fortress Bovan, also called Bolvan Fortress, stands on the rocky Kulina hill near Bovan village in eastern Serbia's Pomoravlje region, rising 237 meters to dominate surrounding valleys and trade routes. Likely built atop a Roman castrum called Praesidium Pompei, it was first documented in 1395 via Princess Milica's charter noting its salt storage role under Moravian Serbia, later becoming a vital border stronghold under Despot Stefan Lazarević against Ottoman incursions from 1402 until 1459. Its elongated north-south layout across two hill peaks uses broken stone, lime mortar, and wooden beams adapted to rugged terrain for defense, changing hands repeatedly before abandonment as protected ruins today.