Veliko Tarnovo

The town of Veliko Tarnovo is located along the historical hills of Sveta Gora, Tsarevets and Trapezitsa, on the two banks of the Yantra River, cutting a breath-taking gorge through Turnovo Hills. It is situated 240 km north-east of Sofia. This is the old metropolis of Bulgaria and now it is currently a regional administrative centre.

Veliko Turnovo is the town with the most glorious historical past in Bulgaria. It is a symbol of Bulgarian statehood and a source of national pride for every Bulgarian. The earliest traces were found on the Trapezitsa Hill (traced back to the 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).

Once Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of Bulgaria where history became legend. Although Sofia became the capital of Bulgaria after the Liberation, Veliko Turnovo continued to be a sacred place for all Bulgarians, a bastion of Bulgarian national spirit and self-awareness. It is the birthplace of Petko R. Slaveikov, of the great actor Konstantin Kissimov, of the writers Emiliyan Stanev and Dimitur Mantov and of loads of other renowned Bulgarians who contributed to the prosperity of the Bulgarian arts and crafts.