TUIDA

"They gathered together, gathered men and women in Tarnovgrad.
Singing songs, heavy tables ordered, market set up.
And fierce battles led, finally king crowned ...
It was the summer of 2017, under the hot sun of Tsarevets.
One hundred and twenty people legend did
The legend of the greatness of Turnovgrad!"
The team of Tuida Fortress took part in the international festival "The Everyday Life of Medieval Tarnovgrad - The Greatness of Kaloyan" Veliko Tarnovo. The festival is held for a consecutive year and has the task, through the historical reconstruction of the countryside, kitchen, crafts, arts and military skills of Bulgaria, Byzantium and Europe during that period, to build a bridge in time and to allow the visitors to transfer to another, Mysterious and full of pleasant epochs.The re-created period is the 12th-14th centuries - the time of the Asenevtsi dynasty, and the place of performance is the Tsarevets Architectural and Museum Reserve.This year's event was organized in several festival days from 30.06 to 02.07.2017 year. The official opening was at "Tzar Asen First" square, during which the reconstruction groups appeared from all the streets leading to the square. Boyars, musicians, merchants, Koumanians, warriors, knights and peasants gathered in front of the large audience to recreate the greatness in our history.
Extremely rich and interesting program during all the days of the festival, including demonstrations of medieval clothes and jewelery, iconography, weapons museum, coinage, knitting and embroidery, carving, lighting, paper making, frescoing, tanning, medieval cuisine, medieval dance classes , Archery, rope knitting and many others, the culmination was the presentation of moments of the glorious battle of Adrianople of 1205 and the live painting "The Coronation of Kaloyan".One of the most beautiful jewelry at the festivities was the performances of the music group Erinay. Organizers of the event are the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, the Regional Historical Museum of Veliko Tarnovo and National Movement "Tradition." The participants were reconstructors and clubs for restorations from all over the country and abroad.
Our team is very grateful to the organizers for the invitation to participate and the opportunity to promote the Tuida fortress and Sliven as a destination for such a big forum.The audience that visited Tsarevets and the festival was extremely large and of different nationalities. Some of them heard about Tuida for the first time and expressed their desire to visit the site.Our team will continue to seek ways of strengthening the position of Sliven on the world map of cultural tourism.
Photos: Natalia Borisova, Snezhana Alexandrova, GRANCHAROV and Maya Ivanova

The team of the Tuida Fortress and the Medieval Martial Arts Club "Ratina"- Sliven took part in the second edition of the National Medieval Council "Magic Madara", 24-25 June 2017 (Enyovden), on the territory of the Madara NIAR. In it were invited to take part reconstructors and lovers of history from all over the country.The purpose of the event, which took place at the foot of the Madara Horseman, was for participants and visitors to get the most out of the medieval way of life, to familiarize themselves with the lifestyle, clothing, cuisine, crafts, rituals and customs, warlike equipment and weapons, typical of this period in our lands. Thus, we have built a rich Bulgarian past with "live paintings", showing the activities of the Bulgarian reconstruction clubs and attracting an additional number of tourists and visitors interested in Bulgarian history.
It also continued the introduction of a handful of soil in front of the rock relief from the different territories that had been dominated by Bulgarians over the centuries.

A youth camp in Sliven ended with anti-narcotics messages. It was took place at the fortress "Tuida" in Sliven from June 19th to 23th, 2017 year. The last day was held under the slogan "No to Drugs." The children wrote about 50 messages against the use of narcotic drugs and released part of them in the sky with kites - "Life is more expensive than the drug", "Let's live healthy" and others.
On June 26, when World Anti-Drug Day is celebrated, at 10.30 at the Hadji Dimitar square will be released the other messages.In the camp involved over 200 students from schools in the city.From 19 to 23 June, they attended the event on a rotating basis and participated in the events organized by the organizers. The event is part of the preventive activity of the Municipality of Sliven in the fight against the use and spread of narcotic substances among adolescents. The pupils participated in thematic discussions on the harm of addictions, the health hazards of young people and took part in many games and competitions.
Program in five days was full of information, thematic meetings, entertaining games and entertainment. Students participated in the sports area, activities for the first steps in mountaineering, medieval games, discussion of human trafficking, "one day of shooting" in teaching folk dances, demonstration of judo and acrobatics, applied arts.Horseback riding, orientation, first aid, mapping of messages, solving a case of antisocial behavior, sports venues, work with preventive materials, medieval games and archery were organized. Holds training in folk dances, which involved visitors' Tuida "- girls ensemble" constellation of Ural "from Ekaterinburg, Russia. The children watched a demonstration of the firefighter profession.
Deputy Mayor Pepa Chilikova, who congratulated the schools, sent their representatives to the camp.
"I thank your lecturers for appreciating our efforts to show that there are interesting activities that help us keep children away from drugs, alcohol and smoking. Our idea is for the camp to become a traditional one and expand its activities, "said Pepa Chilikova. She gave awards to all teams for good achievements in the different disciplines.
Organizers of the event were the Municipal Council on Narcotic Substances and the Preventive and Information Center. Commander of the camp was Dimo ​​Marinov, a teacher of physical education and sports at the Peyo Yavorov School.

The Association “Club of Medieval Martial Arts- Ratina” at Tuida Fortress presented traditional trading techniques within the festival dedicated to the anniversary of the opening of the AltSek monument in the Italian town Chele di Bulgria.
At the invitation of the Ascension Foundation, a delegation of 10 people, headed by Milen Petrov, embarked on the shores of Italy from Sliven. On June 7, 2017. in front of the monument of the Bulgarian leader Altsek group was the main accent in the festive program. The good preparation of members of the Medieval Martial Arts Club, the warm welcome and the common historical memory brought a brilliant and emotional performance to the crowd.
Association " Club of Medieval Martial Arts - Ratina " was founded in 2015, with the seat of the city of Sliven and head Milen Petrov. The club bears its name in analogy to a legendary and long-lost ancient book containing the epic war songs of the Bulgarians. A record of this book is found in the collection of ritual folk songs, "Veda Slovena", Book II, Chapter XXI. Encumbrances.
The main goal of the club is to study the medieval Bulgarian military and preserve it in the form of traditional military art. Activities designed to achieve this goal are aimed at recreating the medieval military culture and its values by exercising the body in certain forms of armed struggle. The club's activities include: reconstruction of the medieval Bulgarian arms and clothing as a response to emerging issues in history, as well as the presentation of the various social and cultural aspects of the military lifestyle and the life of the population in the early medieval Tuida fortress - Sliven. Reproduction period: First Bulgarian State (VII-XI century).
In the club is joined all the team of Tuida Fortress and many other children and adults from Sliven. Since its founding, the Club Rathina and the team of Tuida Fortress have had numerous joint events related to medieval reenactments, martial arts, demonstrations, and participation in folk reunions held in the old cities of Pliska and Veliki Preslav, in the Markeli fortress and Varbitsa, in Aula of Bagatour School in city Stara Zagora, Mezdra, Asenovgrad, Yambol and of course in Tuida fortress.
Milen Petrov and the members of the club express their appreciation to Mr. Ivelin Mihailov and the organizers from the "Ascension" Foundation for the invitation and the opportunity "to show the world a small part of the Bulgarian fighting spirit. For all of us, it was an unforgettable experience. Thank you."
The pleasant surprises for the Sliven club and the Bulgarian delegation did not stop all the time. The Bulgarian bus, with volunteers and participants, was accompanied by Professor Margarita Vaklinova, a long - time director of the National Archaeological Institute with a museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, one of the most famous investigators of the Middle Ages. Interesting discussions, controversies and future plans accompanied the trip. On their arrival in the Campania region, the Bulgarian delegates were greeted with cities decorated with the Bulgarian tricolor, inscriptions that welcomed in the native language with "Welcome!" And many smiles. Local residents had prepared culinary tastings of homemade dishes and pastries. Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Rome , His Excellency Marin Raykov expressed his enormous expectation for the presentation of the Sliven group on their arrival in Chele di Bulgeria.
At the Folklore Festival-Festival was also celebrated the anniversary of the twinning of the town of Veliki Preslav and Chele di Bulgeria.
The three-day program included:
- The twinning of the "St. St. Cyril and Methodius "in the town of Veliki Preslav and the village of Dragoevo and the secondary school" Chernorizets Hrabar "in the municipal center with the primary school in Podderia (Italy)
- Velotour to Mount Bulgaria
- Demonstrations of the Medieval Martial Arts Club Rathina Sliven
- Round table "Twinning ... Opportunities" - Presenters: HE. Marin Rakov Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Rome, Adv. Corado Matera adviser to the Campania Tourism Region and Gino Marotta Mayor of Chele di Bulgaria.
- Painting exhibition
- Bulgarian folklore performances of songs and dances
- Concert of Pierra Lombardi
- Meeting with tour operators from the region
- Closing the school year for schools in Chele di Bulgaria
At the time of the Round Table dedicated to twinning and opportunities, His Excellency Marin Raykov, the Bulgarian ambassador in Rome, handed on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the honorary sign "Golden Lure Branch" to the Mayor of Chele di Bulgria - Gino Marotta. He in turn thanked and merits of the Bulgarian embassy and in particular Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Ninov Foundation Treasure Foundation and Ascension, which is due to the erection of the monument Khan Altsek in the Italian city.
The Italian settlements, allegedly of Bulgarian origin, are over a hundred: Bolgar to Bergamo, Bolger to Terni, Bolgari to Livorno, Bulgari di Cesena to Forli, Bulgarrogras to Como. The most closely connected with our history is Chele di Bulgeriya, which means "cells" from Bulgaria. It is reached after a one-hour voyage by Salerno. A steep mountain road takes you to the Mingardo Valley at the foot of Mount Bulgeria. Similar to a lying lion, the 1225-meter peak touches the southern slope of the Mediterranean Sea.
According to some authors, the Bulgarians arrive here on several waves beginning in the IV-V century, the most significant being their settlement in the 7th century when kin Asparuh's brother, Alsek, moved to Central Europe with his horde, Thousands of people. He separated himself from his older brother, who passed the mouth of the Danube river somewhere around the fortified camp of Ongala and moving along the route passing through today's cities of Sofia, Belgrade and Dubrovnik, reaching the Apennine peninsula. In 668, he asked Langobard King Greenwald let him settle on his land. The King appointed him to military service with himself and sent him with his army in Benevento. There the royal son Romuld provided the Bulgarians with a coastal area in Ravenna, together with the towns of Sepino, Ideirnia, Bolivianum (later called Boyano) and others, located in today's Campobasso area, which Bulgarians have built and developed. For the later relations between Bulgaria and Italy, the fact that in the First and Second Bulgarian kingdoms the country had an outlet on the Adriatic Sea through the Drachma region, which was inhabited mainly by the Bulgarian population, helped. The Maritime Border allowed the continuation of relations and the development of trade exchanges between Bulgaria and Italy. The number of Bulgarians settled in Italy between the third and the sixteenth century was significant. Bulgarian communities have contributed to the development of Italian society. Over the years, Bulgarians have held important positions in government, state administration, magistrates, military aristocracy, and in the institution of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1119, the Bulgarian community in Bologna founded a university called Universitato Bulgaro, one of the oldest universities in Europe. The Bulgarians have left clear traces in the names of geographical areas, mountains, rivers and localities in Italy, especially in Ravenna, Lombardy, Tuscany, Piedmont, Emilia and Umbria. In the 18th century, in the Cesena area there was a municipality named Bulgaria.
Today these relationships continue to exist and strengthen. With contagious curiosity, the inhabitants of Chele di Bulgria are looking for the dimensions of the Bulgarian.
Gino Marotta, Mayor of Chele di Bulgeriya: "I was in Bulgaria and as soon as I arrived I had the feeling that I was home. Nature is similar to ours. I found very close traits between the Bulgarians and the Italians ".
Mr. Marin Raykov, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Italy: "More and more Bulgarians come here, not only because of the incredible beauty of this beach, the place where Bulgaria descends to the sea, but I would also say for the extremely cordial attitude of Local Italians ".
In Chele di Bulgeriya everyone finds their way to the ancient past of Bulgarians and in the first year since the opening of the Altsek Monument, Sliven also left a trail in history. The presentation of the Sliven group was fascinating and memorable. It included demonstrations of medieval combat techniques - archery, scouring, sword, spear, struggle, training of young wars, and various aspects of the lifestyle and culture of ancient Bulgarians - medieval games and crafts. Stanimir Rusev, at the age of 9, was the smallest fighter who caused the greatest applause and pride of all Bulgarians in the audience.
"It was a great honor for us to be invited to this forum. Each of our participants put our heart in the preparation and presentation of the club. We will work in the future more and more committed to the preservation and preservation of the Bulgarian traditions, war, life and culture! "- Milen Petrov - Head of the Ratina Medieval Martial Arts Club at Tuida Fortress Sliven.

Photos: Guida Anna Ida - Photography and Maya Ivanova

The team of Tuida fortress took a part in the VI Fair of Tourist Animation and Entertainment - Kabile 2017, which took place from 09.06-11.06.2017. Organizers of the event were the Municipality of Yambol and the National Historical and Archeological Reserve "Thracian and Antique city Kabile".

Participants took over 100 restorers. In addition to Yambol reenovers from all over Bulgaria participated, including representatives of the clubs "Krum Strashnye" - Shumen, "Dux Anticae" - Svishtov, "Mos Mayorum Ulphere Serdice" - Sofia.
Visitors to the event had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the antique age through battles between the Romans and Thracians, to go through the Middle Ages by touching moments in the lives of our ancestors, to shoot with bow and to play ancient games suitable for youngs and olds. Presented were replicas of authentic weapons from the Middle Ages and Gothic armament.
Among the other highlights of the program were the recreation of a Roman court, embodiments of fable Aesop and 7th feat of Heracles, Slaves market, rituals in honor of Jupiter and Dionysus, Tasting of food and drinks - typical of the antique era, crafts market and others. The presence of Harris's Hawk - Drako cause excitement and curiosity among visitors to the ancient town of Kabile. Everyone could have taken a picture of this extraordinary predator.

On the occasion of International Children's Day June 1st,2017, in Tuida fortress were held "Medieval Games". Within two hours, children from different age groups passed through many tests, testing their strengths, precision and wits. Two hours into the Middle Ages - full of smiles and fun.

Тhe Team of Tuida Fortress include a sports festival for young and old "Sportacus" with interesting medieval games. In celebration was attended by students and children from kindergartens and schools, children and youth from SEN. The organizers of the event were: REGIONAL CENTER FOR SUPPORT EDUCATION EDUCATION PROJECT - SLIVEN REGION, YOUTH INFORMATION CONSULTING CENTER - SLIVEN AND YOUTH DOMAIN SLIVEN.

The team of Tuida fortress on 29.05.2017 for a second consecutive year joined at initiative - Eurobazaar of local products "Sliven's product with European quality", organized by the European Information Center "Europe Direct - Sliven" together with Sliven Municipality, Sliven Public Donation Fund Association and "Tabora Equestrian Club".
The purpose of the event was to promote local producers, companies and organizations. During the bazaar there were interactive games, information stands, eco-workshops, exhibitions and more.

The "Dyeing from Nature" project goes to its end. It is implemented with the financial support of the National Culture Fund. Performer is the National Museum of Textile Industry- Sliven in partnership with Nature Park „Blue stones”, Tuida fortress and Professional High School of Textile and Clothing „Dobri Zhelyazkov“. Participants in the project are 4 groups of researchers - students from the Second Primary School "Hristo Botev", headed by Kostadinka Popova; from the 3rd Primary School "Dr. Ivan Seliminski" with leaders Vassilena Zhelyazkova and Tatiana Andreeva, and from the Professional High School of Textile and Clothing „Dobri Zhelyazkov“.
For 10 months the participants studied dyeing with natural dyes, traditions and practices in the past, seek a scientific explanation, they experimented, carrying expeditions made demonstrations in public. On 27.05.2017. The final workshop was held, which was open to all who wanted to join. Hosts of the event were the National Museum of Textile Industry and Tuida Fortress- Sliven.
Participants had the opportunity to learn about the stages through which the wave (from fleece to woven fabric) and participate in the dyeing of textile materials with natural dyes authentic recipes. Guest-Demonstrator - Marieta Nedkova, Association for the Development of Arts and Crafts ARIZ 7

Nearly 1,500 people visited the Late Antique and Medieval Fortress Tuida in the magical evening with the Quick Hands Project on 18 May 2017.The event was organized by the team of Tuida fortress together with Municipality of Sliven on the occasion of the International Museum Day - 18 May.

On its own behalf and on behalf of Mayor Stefan Radev, deputy mayor Stoyan Markov greeted the audience.He noted that seeing so many people is indicative that not in vain the tourist site won the "Attraction number 1" award for last year in Bulgaria."I want to thank you to Tuida's team for their hard work and for attracting tourists, and citizens who visit the forthress and feel the magic of our history," - said Markov.

Quick Hands Project presented a rich program with card-focused, newspaper-cutting, rope-binding, etc. All the numbers, some of which even dangerous, were served with a dose of humor, which made the audience entertain even more. The happiest were the children who were eager to be called on stage to get involved in the focus. Predictably, some of them had come to the scene.

Before the show with tricks of Quick Hands Project, the open space was presented upcoming participation of a group of "Difficult childhood" in a fortress Tuida of June 1, at 20:30. They performed one of his songs.
It was a beautiful magic.