Construction work began on the fourth stage of conservation of Roman baths in Acque Calide

Today, April 2, construction and assembly works began on the fourth stage of the conservation, restoration, and exhibition of the Roman baths at the ancient "spa center" Aquae Calidae.

The activities are implemented under the project "Investigation of the past: experimental archaeology as a catalyst for tourism and growth," financed through the INTERREG IPA Bulgaria-Turkey program.

The beneficiaries are the Regional Historical Museum - Burgas, Kameno Municipality, Regional Directorate "Culture and Tourism" - Kırklareli and the Public Educational Center "Kırklareli Evlad-ı Fatihân." The total value of the project is 944,000 euros.

In Aquae Calidae, the northeast tower of the bathhouse and its eastern wall will be conserved, socialized, and exhibited; a tourist infrastructure will also be constructed. In addition, a fragment of the medieval wall of Aquae Calidae and an ancient round defensive tower at the northwest corner of the fortress, exactly on the road between Vetren and Banovo, will be conserved and exhibited.

A solar energy system will be constructed at the Rusokastro Fortress, which will be used for parking lighting, for the needs of the archaeological team, and for decorative lighting of the fortress.

Excavations at Aquae Calidae began in 2008, organized by the Burgas Museum under the leadership of the late Tsania Drazheva, and continued after her passing by Dimcho Momchilov. Cultural layers reach a depth of 7 meters. Gradually, conservation, exhibition, and socialization have been carried out on the Ottoman bathhouse from the 15th century, the southeast tower and part of the eastern wall of the baths, several Roman pools, and a fragment of an 8th-century fortress wall. A building with a museum exposition, modern spa center, and café has also been constructed.

Every year since 2008 to the present, the Municipality of Burgas has been the investor in the research, making every effort to finance excavations, conservation, restoration, and exhibition of the revealed archaeological structures.

Thanks to the joint work of the Burgas Municipality and the Regional Historical Museum - Burgas, Aquae Calidae has become a popular destination for tourists from both within the country and abroad.

In 2026, excavations are planned to continue, once again financed by the Burgas Municipality.