BULGARIA - VELIKO TARNOVO - THE CAPITAL OF BULGARIAN TSARS - WHAT TO SEE AND DO AT VELIKO TARNOVO

 

Veliko Tarnovo – the capital of Bulgarian Tsars

 

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest towns of Bulgaria with a history for more than five thousand years and it is situated in North Bulgaria with population 70000 people. The town is located in the valley of the river Yantra, at a distance of 241 km from the capital Sofia.

The location of the town as a crossroad of multiple roads and commercial connections and routes had helped for its economic and cultural development from antiquity to the present day.

Veliko Tarnovo and the monument of Asen Dynasty

In 1185, the town was declared the capital of the restored Bulgarian State by the brothers Asen and Peter, after the end of Byzantine domination. The town developed fast at the period 12th – 14th century, it was the cultural and intellectual center of Bulgaria. The most significant monument of culture is the medieval fortress Tsarevets on the Tsarevets peak, the citadel of the Second Bulgarian Empire, surrounded on three sides by the river Yantra. It was a medieval town with a palace, the church “St. Petka”, multiple residential and economic buildings, water reservoirs and battle towers. The Patriarch’s residence and church, “The Ascension of Christ”, were on the highest part of Tsarevets.

 

Veliko Tarnovo is also famous for its orthodox churches. One of the most emblematic medieval churches is the temple “St. Forty Holy Martyrs”, constructed in honor of the triumph of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218 – 1241) over the Epir Despot Teodor Komnin (1180 –1273). The tsar Ivan Asen II is buried here, tsar Kaloyan too, as well as many other members of the royal families and the Bulgarian aristocracy. The orthodox temple stores some of the most valuable old Bulgarian epigraph monuments, the Omurtag column, the Asen column and the Border column of the Rodosto fortress from the time of Khan Krum (755 –814).

The monument to the Asen Dynasty

 

The monument to the Asen Dynasty is dedicated to the kings Asen, Peter, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II. It was built in 1985 with the celebration of 800 years since the Asen’s and Peter’s rebellion. The four Asens are around a sword which symbolizes the power and rise of medieval Bulgaria. Asens were three brothers who ruled Bulgaria after its liberation from Byzantium. The first two, Asen and Peter, have dedicated their lives to the independence of Bulgaria and Kaloyan to become a strong force in Eastern Europe. Their heir Ivan Asen II turned out to be an outstanding diplomat and raised Bulgaria to its zenith.

During the Age of Revival (18th – 19th century) Veliko Tarnovo was an attractive place for the Bulgarian intellectuals. The town was also a center of the First Revolutionary Region during the April Uprising of 1876 against the Ottoman dominion. The Liberation of Bulgaria succeed in 1878 and Veliko Tarnovo was the temporary capital of the country. In 1879 the First Constituent Assembly was called, the Tarnovo Constitution was adopted and Prince Alexander I of Batenberg (1857 – 1893) elected for a Bulgarian ruler.

 

 

Gurko street

 

Walking along Gurko street or Samovodskata Charshia, the crafts streets, the town guests can see beautiful houses perching amphitheatrically along the river banks, built 200 years ago. The market street is a kind of an ethnographic complex with crafts workshops, souvenir shops and galleries and the local museums are situated in the old part of the town.

 

Houses at Gurko street

Stambolov Bridge

 

Stambolov bridge is an impressive bridge in the city of Veliko Tarnovo and it was erected over the Yantra River in honor of the prominent resident of Tarnovo and notable Bulgarian statesman Stefan Stambolov. The bridge was built at the end of the 19th century, it is 160 meters high above sea level and connects the central part of the city with the Sveta Gora hill. The purpose of its construction was to shorten the road between the city, the railway station and Veliko Tarnovo University. The facility was unique in its kind for its time, consisting of two tunnels, two railways and one pedestrian bridge. It offers an incredible view of the old part of Veliko Tarnovo.

 

It is not accidental that Veliko Tarnovo was declared a Balkan capital of cultural tourism, and a few times it was awarded by the media with the prize The Most Beautiful Town in Bulgaria. The audio-visual performance “Sound and Light” is broadcasted every year on national holidays, and the most popular places to watch it is the square in front of Tsarevets (for free) or a panoramic site for a fee. Music, lights, lasers and church bells make a unique attraction to the visitors.

The front side of a hotel at Gurko street

For sleeping we chose to rent a house on General Gurko street, with a view at the river and we had our dinner at Mehana Tihiyat Kut, a restaurant with traditional Bulgarian food, with fresh ingredients, good service, affordable prices and a nice and cozy yard, we chose to sit outside as the weather was warm for the end of October. It’s really a hidden gem!