Baldwin's Tower (Bulgarian:Балдуинова кула,Balduinova kula) is atower house located in theTsarevets fortress in the Bulgarian town ofVeliko Tarnovo.[1] The tower's name originates from Baldwin IX of Flanders, who was imprisoned in the tower after his capture in theBattle of Adrianople. It overlooks the Frankish Quarter (Frenkhisar)[1] and Frenkishar Gate[2] which is located southeast of the fortress wall of the Tsarevets fortress.[1]The Sofia Globe regarded it as one Bulgaria's biggest historical tourism spots.[3]
The tower's name originates fromBaldwin IX of Flanders, one of the leaders of theFourth Crusade whichsacked Constantinople and first emperor of theLatin Empire after their conquest of theByzantine Empire.[3] In 1205, Baldwin led a Crusader force against Bulgarian emperorKaloyan and was captured after theBattle of Adrianople. It is commonly said that Baldwin was imprisoned in, and eventually died in, the tower.[a][2][5] The tower survived until 1913 when it was destroyed by an earthquake.[6] It was restored in either 1930,[3] 1933,[1] or 1938[6] by archaeologist and architect Alexander Rashenov[1] based on the preserved medieval tower in theCherven fortress nearRousse.[1][3]
On February 29, 2013, theBulgarian National Television reported that Baldwin's Tower was in critical need of repair, alongside concerns it may be too dangerous for visitors. The reason for the damage was that tourists would pick stones out of the tower’s walls and floors, either as mementos or to throw them from the cliff into the nearby Yantra River. The cost of repairs was estimated to be 15,000leva, which was expected to come from entrance fees paid by tourists visiting Tsarevets.[3]
Baldwin's Tower
[Baldwin's Tower] survived up to 1913, when it was destroyed by an earthquake. Restored with part of the fortress in 1938, it is visited today by tourists as one of the interesting spots on Tsarevets.
43°4′51″N25°39′11″E / 43.08083°N 25.65306°E /43.08083; 25.65306