Cape Kaliakra, a sad story
In 1444, the Ottoman Empire invaded Bulgaria, burning and raping their way across the country. Girls who were captured by the Ottomans were either kept for the pleasure of the officers or sent to join the Sultan’s harem at Constantinople. When the Ottoman army approached Cape Kaliakra, 40 local girls fled to the end of the headland with the intent of killing themselves. They tied their hair together to be sure that none of them would yield to their fear and jumped together from the 70 metres high cliff. A memorial obelisk known as ‘The Gate of the 40 Maidens’ now stands at the entrance to the cape.
Legend or true story?
Photo taken in the fortress on the cape
Cape Kaliakra, a sad story
In 1444, the Ottoman Empire invaded Bulgaria, burning and raping their way across the country. Girls who were captured by the Ottomans were either kept for the pleasure of the officers or sent to join the Sultan’s harem at Constantinople. When the Ottoman army approached Cape Kaliakra, 40 local girls fled to the end of the headland with the intent of killing themselves. They tied their hair together to be sure that none of them would yield to their fear and jumped together from the 70 metres high cliff. A memorial obelisk known as ‘The Gate of the 40 Maidens’ now stands at the entrance to the cape.
Legend or true story?
Photo taken in the fortress on the cape