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The Assenova or Petrich fortress, located in the Rhodope Mountains, is located 2 km from Asenovgrad. The fortress has existed since the time of the Thracians. It was rebuilt in the IX century to guard the door of the White sea passage and ensure the Byzantine frontier in this region.

The first written evidence of the fortress dates from the XI century and are derived from statutes of the Bachkovo monastery. From these data it appears that the fortress possessed its own army and administration. It was conquered by the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade.

The fortress was named after Tsar Ivan Asen II, who in 1231 made several amendments to it in order to strengthen the fortress. An inscription carved in a rock of the fortress testifies to this. The fortress existed until 1410, when it was destroyed by the invading Ottoman forces.

The fortress was studied by archaeologists for more than 50 years. According to archaeological data it is Bulgarian fortress dating from the second half of IX century. Coins from the reign of Emperor Theophilus (829-842) have been found there. Initially the castle was a small strategic fortress-tower passageway connecting Plovdiv with the Aegean coast in the gorge of Chaya river. Later near the fortress two villages – Petrich and Stenimachos appeared. Then logically the population of the fortress grew as the surrounding terrain was built up with residential and commercial buildings.

Acropolis excavation consists mainly of the castle itself. Walls were found, inside a fortified tower, along with reservoirs and small fortified church (chapel of St. Mary), accommodation buildings and more. The fortified tower is located in the western part of the acropolis and at the base has an irregular rectangular shape. It is the kind of internal towers that fell in the highest place and was used for surveillance and protection. It represents a high, narrow building. Found fragments of pottery, animal bones and other objects suggest that it was used for housing from the defenders of the fortress.

The only well-preserved building here is the church "St. Mary of Petrich". Because of its picturesque location – it is built on a rock platform at the foot of the feudal castle, sophistication and degree of preservation, it was declared a cultural monument of national importance. In 1986 on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Uprising of Assen and Peter was made recent restoration of the church - the facade and frescoes dating from the time of her building. On August 14, 1991 the church was lit again and became an active church.

The church was conceived and implemented as a single fortified complex. It has two floors, nave, apse, a narthex and nave, a so-called "cross tight". The lower floor is designed as a crypt perhaps, but it was never used for this purpose. It is illuminated by three small windows.

Above it is built sturdy brick arch, which serves as a floor on the second floor of the actual church. In the middle rises the nave placed on drum. The architecture of the church most likely is borrowed from Western Gothic style.