Once you've been to Veliko Turnovo, your heart is forever captured by its magical beauty and splendor. It is a magic called love. A love, that teems everywhere. Finally, you become an inseparable part of its magnificence and eternity.
     This is a place on Earth where the future meets the past to build the present. This town has been through many centuries of tragedy as well as of glory. The air is filled with the breath of many national heroes and many legendary men. When you walk around you can feel the holy atmosphere and the energy of a place like this.
     The town of Veliko Turnovo is situated in central Bulgaria, at the foot of Stara planina, 210 meters above the sea level. It is regally situated along the historical hills of Tzarevetz, Trapezitza, and Sveta Gora, on the two banks of the Yantra River. The town lies at almost same distance from the biggest Bulgarian towns - 241 km northeast of Sofia, 228 km southwest of Varna, 192 km northeast of Plovdiv, and 224 km northwest of Bourgas. The town is situated amphitheatrically on 4 hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora, the ridges of which were indeed the deeply inclined steep banks of the Yantra river meanders.

     History

     The earliest traces were found on the Trapezitsa Hill (dating back to first half of the 3rd millennium BC). Remnants on Tsarevets Hill date back to the end of the Bronze Era (13th century BC). This oldest settlement was inhabited by Thracians (the tribes of uzdicenses and crobises) and existed by the end of the Iron Era. Its prosperity is related to 6th century BC - till 1st century AC. Its traces in the first centuries of the Roman Rule are lost on our lands (at the beginning of the new era).
     The next layer of Tsarevets is early Byzantine, from the 5th to the first half of the 7th century when there was a fortified town on the hill (one of the supporting points of Byzantium in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula), which withstood for 3 centuries. A big Slavonic-Bulgarian settlement of the 8th to 10th century was founded on the ruins of this town. At the end of the 10th century the hill was already densely populated and in the 12th century it was a fortified town and a significant economic centre.
     The origin of the name is related to the Slavonic word "tern" or "trun" (thorn) and during the years it developed into Ternov, Trunov, Tur-nov, Turnovgrad, Turnovo and Veliko Turnovo, being called "Veliko" (Great) in relation to its size, beauty and grandeur. In 1187 the Uprising of Assen and Peter was successfully completed, the Byzantine Rule was thrown off and Turnovgrad became the capital (the third capital in the history of Bulgaria) of the restored Bulgarian Kingdom. The following two centuries are "golden" in the history of the town.
     The Tsar's Palace and the Bulgarian Patriarchy were situated on the Tsarevets Hill and the houses of the boyars and the senior priesthood as well as a lot of churches were situated on Trapezitsa Hill. Assenova Mahala (quarter), located between the above mentioned hills, by the Yantra River, was inhabited by craftsmen. The district of foreign merchants (Franks) was to the south-east of the Baldwin Tower. Thick fortified walls of the "internal town" protected Tsarevets and Trapezitsa. The other two quarter also had fortified protection and formed the "external town". Solely the dwellings of the destitute among the non-privileged people remained outside the fortifications at the foothill of the Momina Krepost (Maiden's Fortress) Hill, in the immediate proximity of the Yantra River. During the 13th and 14th centuries the capital of Bulgaria was a big political, economic, trade and cultural centre in Europe. The Bulgarian State reached the heights of its development during this period. Along with Byzantium it was the first power on the Old Continent. Magnificent palaces, monasteries, churches, fortifications, bridges, big houses were built here. The Turnovo School of Painting and the Turnovo Literary School, whose founders, organisers and most prominent representatives are Patriarch Evtimii and Teodosii Turnovski (of Turnovo), developed and carried out their versatile activities here. All the prosperity and spiritual upsurge was discontinued on 17th July 1393, when after a 3-month siege Veliko Turnovo, and gradually the whole of Bulgaria succumbed under Ottoman Rule... The Metropolitan town was in ashes.
     Centuries were to pass before the town was able to recuperate and experience a new economic, cultural and political upsurge during the Revival period. Crafts developed, trade flourished, beautiful houses, public buildings, churches (with the greatest contribution in that respect belonging to the unsurpassed Master Kolyu Ficheto), the aspiration for enlightenment and national self-awareness started to find their implementation and the struggle for ecclesiastical and national independence gained strength. The population of the old Bulgarian Metropolis took part in the Turnovo Uprisings of 1598, 1686 and 1700, in Velcho Conspiracy (1835), in the Uprising of Captain Dyado Nikola (1856), in Hadzhi Stavrev' Revolt (1862) and in the April Uprising of the rebellious year of 1876. Then Bacho Kiro, Tsanko Dyustabanov and a lot of other fighters for freedom were hanged under the gallows erected in the town square. The Apostle Levski came here more than once (the last time in 1872, unfortunately enchained).
     On 7th July 1877 Veliko Turnovo was free again. From 10th February to 16th April 1879 the Constituent Assembly, which developed the First Bulgarian Constitution - the Turnovo Constitution, one of the most democratic constitutions in Europe for that time, convened here. On 17th April 1879 the first Great National Assembly of liberated Bulgaria convened in Veliko Turnovo to elect a head of state. On 27th July the same year Alexander Battenberg was elected as Bulgaria's knyaz (first prince). It was namely here that on 6th September 1885 Stefan Stambolov and Petko Karavelov made the decision to acknowledge the union of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Roumelia.
     Although Sofia became the capital of Bulgaria after the Liberation, Veliko Turnovo continued to be a sanctuary for all Bulgarians, a bastion of Bulgarian national spirit and self-awareness.

     Landmarks

     The Tsarevets Hill Archaeological Reserve in the eastern part of the modern town - the fortified wall, which in combination with the natural endowments, provided safety of the institutions which were of the greatest importance for the Bulgarian state, is restored. The so-called Baldwin Tower in which Tsar Kaloyan confined the Latin Emperor Baldwin after his capture during the defeat of the Crusaders in 1205 near Odrin rises in its most southern part. One of the most interesting sites is the Palace of Bulgarian Tsars representing an independent fortress situated on the area of 4872 square metres. The most impressive premises in the Palace were the Throne Hall and St. Petka Palace Church. The Palace whose building was expanded several times during the 13th and the 14th century, was completely destroyed after the town fell under Ottoman Rule.
     The second largest architectural complex of Tsarevets is Bulgarian Patriarchy. The Patriarchal complex rose at the highest place, above the Tsar's Palace. It occupied an area of about 3000 square metres, shaped as an individual fortress in the shape of an irregular polygon. The Lord's Ascension Patriarchal Church with a belfry tower - a phenomenon scarcely met in the ecclesiastical architecture on the Balkans rose in the centre of the yard. The excavated foundations of residential buildings and churches along the steep slope of Tsarevets, east and south of the Patriarchy, forming a little quarter of the Medieval town are of a special interest. A big boyar settlement north of Tsarevets was studied, too which with its architectural pattern is the prototype of Bulgarian Revival house. One of the most valuable Medieval Bulgarian monuments - Forty Holy Martyrs Church is situated at the western foothill of Tsarevets Hill, near the river. It was erected by order of Tsar Ivan Assen II in honour of his great victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa on 22nd March 1230. During the 18th century the Turks turned it into a mosque but a part of the valuables contained in it are still preserved. Thus, for instance, the three preserved stone columns - Assen's, Omourtag's and the one from the Rodosto Fortress are of an exceptional importance to historical science and prove the succession in the Bulgarian statehood.
     Tsarevets Hill finishes in its north-eastern end with a strongly protruding over the Yantra River Lobna Skala (Rock at the place of death) from which traitors were thrown down.
     The Trapezitsa Hill is related to the earliest manifestations of the Bulgarian rulers in the 12th century. In 1185 the St. Dimitur Solunski Church was built in the outskirts of the hill. It was a royal church up to the year 1230 and Assen, Peter and Kaloyan were crowned in it. The church was shown mercy after Tarnovo fell under Ottoman Rule. It was almost completely destroyed during the second half of the 19th century. The St. Georgi Church is also situated in the eastern outskirts of the hill. It was erected in 1612 in the place of a destroyed Medieval Bulgarian church. The most interesting things in it are the mural paintings whose unknown author had shown himself as a follower of the best traditions of Turnovo School of Painting. A lot of dwellings of boyars were found during excavation works and there was a little family church in nearly each of them. In 1195 by an order of Tsar Ivan Assen I, the relics of St. Ivan Rilski were rested in a monastery located on the hill. The quarter on the two sides of the river between Tsarevets and Trapezitsa Hills where the 4 valuable historical churches are located (St. Dimitur Solunski, St. Georgi, Forty Holy Martyrs and St. St. Peter and Pavel) is called Assenova Mahala (Assen's quarter) and constituted the fundamental part of the so called "external town".
     Sveta Gora is the third hill of the Metropolis Tarnovgrad. It rises south of Tsarevets and was a cultural and spiritual centre of the Bulgarian State in Medieval times. There were a lot of churches and monasteries here. Today the buildings of St. St. Cyril and Methodius Veliko Tarnovo University rise on the place of the monastery. Construction of a lot of new private and public buildings commenced with the growing economic prosperity of the Bulgarians during the Revival period, a great part of which still adorn the Old town.
     After Veliko Turnovo fell under Ottoman Rule the town started to expand to the west little by little. Predominantly Turks settled down along the hills of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa and predominantly Bulgarians settled down in the new quarters. Construction of a lot of new private and public buildings commenced with the growing economic prosperity of the Bulgarians during the Revival period, a great part of which still adorn the Old town (between the hills of Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora, separated from them through the meanders of the Yantra River).
     The self-educated Bulgarian architect and builder Master Kolyu Ficheto greatly contributed in this respect. He created several of them - the Konak (police station) (1872), related to a lot of historical events (to the interrogation of the captured Levski in 1872, to the Turkish court trial of the revolutionaries Bacho Kiro, Tsanko Dyustabanov, Georgi Izmirliev, Ivan Semerdzhiev, Ekim Tsankov and others in 1876, to the welcoming of the Russian liberators in 1877, to the Constituent Assembly in 1879 and the First Great National Assembly convened during the same year, to the decision for the acknowledgement of the Union in 1885). The Inn of Hadzhi Nikola (1858), one of the most interesting architectural monuments of the Revival period. The St. St. Cyril and Methodius Church (1861), St. Spas (Ascension) Church (1862-1863) and St. Konstantin and St. Elena Church (1872), as well as the House with the Monkey (1849, in the centre of the town), taking its name form the sitting monkey placed above the ground floor with an inscribed sign plate under it. The Museum of the Second Bulgarian State is located near the Konak. The home of Petko R. Slaveikov. The St. Nikola Church (1836) during whose construction Kolyu Ficheto worked as an apprentice. The prison-museum (1862) where a lot of freedom-loving Bulgarians were sent, among them Levski, Philip Totyu, Stefan Karadzha, Bacho Kiro. The house of Kokona (Grand Lady) Anastassia (of the end of the 18th century. Stambolov's Inn (was owned by Stefan Stambolov's family, the rebellious Captain Dyado Nikola worked here, too). The monument to Velcho Conspiracy in the square of the same name.
     Gourko Street with a lot of Revival Period houses in it adds romantic atmosphere to the Old Town. Built steeply above the river, it seems as if they have perched one over the other. One of the most beautiful buildings in this street is Sarafkin's House (Moneychanger's) (1861). The Art Gallery and the monuments to the Assens' Dynasty in front of it are located on a picturesque peninsula (Borouna), rising above the Yantra River. There are a lot of other interesting old houses, public buildings, squares, dozens of monuments, too.
     It is difficult to describe Veliko Tarnovo, it is worth seeing with one's own eyes!
     Now the old metropolis of Bulgaria is an administrative, economic and cultural centre. The picturesque setting and panoramic view of the town as well as its rich cultural and historical heritage wins Veliko Tarnovo the recognition of a historical, cultural and tourist centre of Bulgaria. Tourism in Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most significant trends in the economy of the country. The Veliko Turnovo region has a rich combination of prerequisites for the development of tourism: remarkable nature, historical and cultural memorials, unique architecture, many monasteries, marvelous natural relief, temperate climate, ecologically clean areas, mineral springs, and hunting farms. Every year the town is visited by thousands of tourists from Bulgaria and from abroad. The town is a symbol of Bulgarian statehood and a source of national pride.
     The geographic location of the region of Veliko Turnovo in North Central Bulgaria makes it a crossroad of nearly all vehicular traffic. The roads through Veliko Turnovo carry the highest volume of national and international traffic. One of the 10th International Transport Corridors /ITC/ - No 9 /Helsinki- Moscow- Bukarest-Aleksandrupolis/, passes through the region. The customhouse Rouse, first-class road E-95 and the customhouse of Makhaza mark the corridor. ITC No 9 leads the traffic in North-south direction and realizes the connection between Europe and Asia and the Near East. This corridor is also connected with ITC No 7 /the river Danube/, ITC No 8 /Adriatic-the Black Sea/ and ITC No 4 /in the part of Sofia-Svilengrad/.
     Along the West-east route through the region is the national highway "Hemus" - with destinations Sofia and Varna. The regional road network is long - 1599 km - that is 4.4% of the whole road network of the country. Its density is higher than the average of the entire country. One of the most important advantages of the traffic infrastructure of the region is the international airport in the town of Gorna Oriahovitsa. It works non-stop and with state-of-the-art equipment. It takes in cargo, passenger and charter flights from countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
     The special railway junction in Gorna Oriahovitsa is of national significance for the Republic railway traffic and the International Railway Corridors, passing through the region. Here, the European road E-680 /Sofia-Varna/ and a part of the E-95 /Rouse- Gorna Oriahovitsa- Podkova/, are crossing each other. These roads are categorized in the European agreement for combined transport. The whole length of the railway network is 288km- that is 6.7% of the whole railway network of the country.
     To the north, the region of Veliko Turnovo borders with the river Danube. The port of the town of Svishtov is built on the southern side of the river. It is a main port for the region because it connects Bulgaria with the countries situated on the Central Danube. The port provides inexpensive and ecological traffic of long-distance mass cargoes. The necessary transport infrastructure /railway and motor/ is in place to expedite trade.