The stronghold Rusokastro, Burgas

The stronghold Rusokastro has a long history. It was built 1500 years ago strategically using the height of the natural landscape, suited for monitoring the main roads of North-East Thracia coming from North and South, as well as all of the eastern passes of Stara Planina (the Balkan) and from North the Black Sea leading to the Bosporus and Constantinople. The existence of the village here can be traced back to the 6th century, evidence which were found on the epigraphical monument dedicated to the byzantine general Yustinian. 

For the first time the name Rusokastro is used from the Arab geographer El Idrisi in his work “Geography of the world”. He describes the village of Rusokastro as a large and crowded city.

Later the name “Rusokastron” is mentioned in the byzantine chronicles connected to historical events in the 14th century. 

Early at the foot of the “Big Stone” the Thracians established a village important to the economical and cultural relationships between the Odrisian Kingdom and the ancient cities of Apollonia (nowadays Sozopol) and Mesambria (Nessebar) on the Black Sea coast. Among the archeological artifacts found were a plate of Thracian rider; coins of electron (stater) coinaged in the city of Krizik,; silver drahmas and tetradrahmas coming from the cities of Apollonia Pontius, Odesos, Moroneia dated with the 3rd - 2nd century BC; small treasure with Messambrian bronze coins . A tower above the village rose upon the megalith rocks of the impressive Thracian sanctuary dedicated to the Sun God, the Mother Goddess and the Thracian Hero – the Rider called also “Heros”. The unique megalith rock has an extraordinary shape with many natural cavities, which the Thracians shaped and used for the needs of their rituals. During the excavations in 2006 the archaeologists found four half-round cavities, formed as altars for ritual sacrifices. Two offering stones with round tubs inside mark the road to the cave known as the “Russinata dupka” (Russin's hole). Water running down the walls is collected on the bottom of the cave. A legend talks about the magical healing powers of the cave water. Thanks to this legend, information could be found about the exsitance of the Thracian sanctuary and the rites performed there, as some of these rituals became part of the Christian tradition later.

Even today the local population know this historical place with the names “Russin kamuk” (Russin'stone) and “Russina dupka”.