Melnik Castle is located about one kilometer to the northeast of the city center of Melnik. It is believed that the castle was built in the eleventh century and expanded in the thirteenth century during the reign of Alexius Slav. Its role was to defend the area and provide the seat of rulers Alexius Slave and Dragota. The castle occupies an area of approximately 3000 square meters and had an irregular polygonal shape, and today there are only parts of the eastern wall, which in several places rises to 10 meters. Archaeological excavations have also found parts of the southern and western walls.