Thracian tomb "Ostrusha"

The Ostrusha Mound is located between Shipka and Kazanlak. In 1993 during archaeological excavations a cemetery-cult complex of great artistic and historical value was discovered. The found coins and archaeological materials date back to the middle of the 4th century BC. It consists of five rectangular and one circular room with a total area of 100 square metres. Two of the rooms are inaccessible. Not many monumental facades and ornaments remain, but visitors can still see the central burial chamber carved from two monolithic stone blocks weighing 60 tons. The trapezoidal stone slab that covers it has the shape of a sarcophagus. The ceiling of the tomb is richly decorated with scenes of life, characters, animals, complex geometric shapes. The frescoes, some highlighted by gilding despite their badly deteriorated condition, demonstrate the mastery of the Thracian artists to individualize the characters and their spirituality.