Asenovgrad The Holy Gate of the Rhodope Asenovgrad

Implementation of construction and installation works under the project Asenovgrad: The Holy Gate to the Rhodope

Employer: Asenovgrad Municipality
Contractor: Consortium Asenova Krepost DZZD, leading partner and contractor PSP EOOD

Started on: May 18, 2012
Completed: October 25, 2012

Total value of the contract: BGN 1 325 334.62 VAT excluded
The site falls within the category of cultural monument of National Significance.

On the site, conservation and restoration and construction works have been implemented to improve and update the vision of the monument, socialization of the crypt of the fortress church St. Mary of Petrich and improve the approach to the fortress.

Works were implemented on the long-term strengthening of potentially dangerous rocks, conservation, restoration of objects in the archaeological complex Asen's Fortress. Restored and adapted for tourist visits is the ground floor of the St. Mary of Petrich church, which is believed to have served as a crypt of the castle church. Executed were activities for conservation and adaptation of the crypt at maximum preservation and presentation of authentic medieval structure, introduction of modern technical equipment is discreet and does not affect the overall impact of the authentic environment.

The construction and installation works performed within the Asen’s Fortress were divided into the following eight sectors:
- the entrance section of the complex was improved, including the sidewalk portion of the road, and the stairs approach to the field.
- the track of the path on the plane terrain was preserved, the slates are rearranged, and some areas are complemented with new stone slates. The flagstones were pointed with grout, colored in the hue matching the stone. At recreation and rest spots along the path, there were delivered and installed wooden benches.
- Ameliorated was the section of the bend in the path next to the entrance of the churchyard. The terrain is rocky, but it was completely flattened, with a steep slope on the east side;
- Incorporated were new elements to the existing railing of the stairs to the church and it was tightened in order to provide a safe ascent to greater altitude.
- Rearranged and supplemented was the caving pavement of stone slabs of the staircase along its entire length.
- A metal ladder was built to give view to the reservoir with railings; next to it there was made a slab stones path; the wall was built with conservation stepped sealing at the start of the access to water reservoirs; a path of slab stones or stone slabs leading to the wall with the next steps; patching of caved parts and installation of railings along the periphery of the reservoir; trimming of damaged conservation sealing on the walls and construction of sealant climbing and descending stairs.
- Shaping and reintegration of medieval wall and construction of five new steps to the already existing two steps.
- Around the top of the fortress were built stone steps to fill caving and to prop the medieval walls.

In the steep and inaccessible areas, a path was made paved with stone slabs on reinforced concrete construction of footbridges on landings and the stairs and stone slabs were jointed.
A metal railing was mounted on brackets on both sides of footbridges - external and internal railing.
Conservation and restoration works of the crypt of the fortress church of St. Mary of Petrich included:
- Construction of stairs between the nave and porch, comprising three steps and a small landing, aligned with the entrance level;
- Aligning the floor level of the nave and shaping it with pavement of gneiss slabs with smoothly cut sides and tidy and well-adjusted even joints;

- Aligning the floor level in the altar; cobbled pavement was made, metal ladder to overcome the drop between the level of the nave and the altar;
- Secured was the drilling to the south wall with metal railing;
- Closing the window openings with single-wooden shutters;
- Placing of a glazed wooden door, above which the vault is shaped with glazed lunette at the entrance to the crypt;

- Placing the openwork metal double doors to the altar;
- Completed were works to improve the electric power to the fortress church of St. Mary of Petrich.
Artistic and architectural lighting of the fortress was installed.
The reconstruction of the parking lot and alley network between it and the information and reception center included:
- Construction of a parking lot by adjusting a roadside wall - south side;
- Construction of the main pedestrian alley;
- Construction of recreation areas;
- Building a landing reach the parking lot;
- Paving the open field;
- Construction of a roundabout lane to the panoramic landing;
- Building a playground;
- Facilities for the alley network.
External power supply was installed to light the parking lot.
Reconstruction of the information reception center:
The reconstruction aimed at increasing the useful volume of the building and development of alley network for easy and smooth access of visitors from the parking lot to the information center and entrance. Access to the fortress was improved and the parking lot in the foot of the fortress was extended. The approaches to the church and the castle were preserved in their authentic form, but at dangerous sections, there were installed railings.