Thracian Tumulus at Mezek
The Maritza River, which begins in the Rila Mountains, flows northeast and then southeast toward the Mediterranean Sea for 500 km. Along its course, it passes through fertile valleys where the main cities of Bulgaria are located, including Svilengrad, which is not far from the Turkish border. In the middle of the city, there is a beautiful, long Ottoman bridge designed by the architect Sinan in the 16th century, a small and inviting pedestrian street, and a park along the river.
After Svilengrad, the river crosses the border into Turkey and reaches the city of Adrianople (Edirne), which was the capital of the ancient Thracian Odrysian Confederation.
About 10 km from Svilengrad is the unique Thracian tomb of Mezek, which dates to the 4th century BC. This tomb was probably also a Heroon (a place of commemoration for heroes), and many important treasures were discovered there, now displayed in museums across Bulgaria. It has the longest entrance corridor of any tomb-temple (over 20 meters), leading to two passage rooms shaped like tomb chambers, which then lead to a typical round room with an elliptical ceiling. Several benches symbolizing tombs were found inside, suggesting it was used as a family burial tomb. Within the tomb, a special phenomenon has been observed—the cancellation of the magnetic field—and it may also have contained an ancient ventilation system.
Next to the Mezek tomb-temple, there is another Thracian tomb, and in the nearby village, remains of a well-preserved and beautiful citadel from the Middle Ages can be found.
