baba vida fortress

CoachLo

If you are a castle freak such as myself, then this is a must see. The Baba Vida fortress is a medieval fortress that is one of the best preserved in Europe. It has two wall, four towers, a moat and was built to defend the area against the Turks. It is very easy to get to, right along the Danube River in Vidin, Bulgaria and is an easy walk from town or from any of the river docks. Definitely worth a visit if you like castles and fortresses. This certainly is a fortress, not a palace.

LarryA440

We got there too late to go inside the fortress but we could wander at will upon the top of the walls and around the mote. There's great access to the river and views up and down the Dunav. I hope I can go back and go within on another journey!

olympush2013

- Location: On the bank of the Danube. - Access: It’s not easy to find the fort because of the signage and directions were non-existent. I fell upon it more by luck than judgement.- View: The top level provides panoramic views of the area and new cable-stayed Calafat bridge. I sat on the front lawn and watched few men swimming in the Danube.- Fortress condition: The walls are massive and well preserved.- Duration of visit: An hour.

gmtravellers

The fortress is worth a visit if you are in the area, probably not worth a long drive to see it. The walls are massive and well preserved. There are a few artists displaying in the courtyard which is worth a look.We saw a cute play outlining the history of the area.

JeffreyGL48

If you're in the area, do stop by. It's the only thing to see in town. Otherwise you've seen a lot better restored fortresses elsewhere.

Izvor

Vidin is not the most exciting place I have ever visited, but we wanted to visit Baba Vida fortress. Actually that led to the first problem.....trying to find it. The signage and directions were non-existent so we fell upon it more by luck than judgement. Having said that, it is sighted on the edge of the river with views over to Romania and the new Danube II bridge. Whilst there is not too much in the fortress, the kids will love exploring the various stairs and rooms around the building. There is certainly scope to add more cultural history to the site, but view it for what it is and enjoy an hour.

kleic

I love to walk around old fortresses and very much enjoyed several along the Danube during a recent trip but this one was a bit of a disappointment. In fact, reading the other reviews makes me feel like I missed something or was in the wrong place! The woman at the ticket office was grumpy, there were very few informational signs, the mannequins in the prison were just plain weird and creepy, and the whole place just felt a little off. It was a long, hot walk from where our boat was docked and definitely felt like a let down once we were there. The park surrounding the fortress is a bit run down but pleasant (and there's some good ice cream along the way) but Vidin itself is a pretty sad little town and this place just doesn't seem like it's worth making the effort to visit.

855BruceH

We noticed that two of the towers were accessible for visiting. There is a prison in the fortress, in which torture devices can be seen. The figures of an executioner and a prisoner are not attractive. Cannons and gallows are exposed on one of the terraces. Baba Vida is among the most preserved medieval fortification constructions in Bulgaria, which is why it is not accidentally often chosen as a set for shooting movies. It has unbelievable views of the Danube River so be sure you make the effort to walk to the top.

SeamasterPro

This for is in an excellent state of repair. It overlooks the Danube. There is a small church in there along with some small shops and other displays.

suseboy

"Baba Vida" is a well preserved fortress with moat around it for protection in ancient times. A visitor pays a cheap fee and enters the stronghold. It contains many floors and stony places to see. My favourite site of the fortress is on the top of it. A magnificent view is present - one can see the park of Vidin and the Danube river from left to right and Romania in front across the river.

iliyany2013

very good tourist attraction, symbol of the town of Vidin, but there are some details which needs to improve - museum inside needs to be open as well as a narrator during the trip inside the fortress.

michaelannd

Self-guided tour but it was very interesting. Right along the Danube. We sat on the front lawn and watched people swimming in the Danube! The grounds surrounding the fortress were really nice.

494jackiet

Get a brochure from the Vidin Tourist Office which shows the attractions in Vidin including the Castle which is on English. Historic attraction but do not allow children to explore on their own as no safety railings and holes between each level which they could fall down.

LAtraveler36542

The ruins of tis fortress are quite impressive. The climb on the cobblestones can be tricky, especially after a rain but it is worth it. The top level provides panoramic views of the area. It is a must see if you are in the town of Vidin; the rest of the town is rather depressing and in great need of a facelift.

tomaitken

The fort, on the banks of the Danube, is quite spectacular and well worth a visit. However the town of Vidin is also worth a few days of exploring. The market is excellent, the riverside gardens leading up to the fort are also a great place to relax and chill and the various sculptures are interesting too. The old ruined synagogue is also worth seeing and the main church, opposite the new shopping mall is really stunning. The people are friendly and the restaurants are excellent value for money and of the highest quality. The town centre is mostly pedestrianised and the cafes are a great place to sit and watch the world go by. The Saturday market (near the football stadium) is also interesting where you can buy everything from car spares to computers, live chickens to firewood. Another plus is the absence of tourists!!