The construction of the castle began in the 10th century at the place of the Ancient Roman castell Bononia. 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. Prior to his death, he divided his realm among the three. Vida, the eldest, was given Vidin and the lands north to the Carpathians, Kula was awarded Zaječar and the Timok Valley, and Gamza was to rule the lands west up to the Morava. Although Gamza and Kula married to drunkard and warlike nobles, Vida remained unmarried and built the castle in her city. The name of the castle means “Granny Vida”.
Due to wars and castles being torn down as to prevent rebellions or just for the materials during ottoman times Baba Vida remains the only fully intact castle in Bulgaria.
Here’s also a pretty painting of medieval Vidin
Bdin, by Vasil Goranov
Due to wars and castles being torn down as to prevent rebellions or just for the materials during ottoman times Baba Vida remains the only fully intact castle in Bulgaria.
What a shame. This castle is so beautiful. I can’t help but wonder how much history we lost.
I live in a small town in Italy and apparently we had a castle, but it was torn down two centuries ago and what remains today is just half the remains of one of the towers. Makes me sad every time I walk past it.
It’s pretty unfortunate. There’s been some attempts at reconstructing some of the castles but let’s say they weren’t ideal.
We could at least look on the bright side that although the castles are mostly in ruin, the legacy and culture of the medieval Bulgarian states still remain.
Nevertheless it definitely could feel like a piece of history is just gone.
