The Third Bulgarian Capital – Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo is an exceptionally picturesque city with a rich history: the first settlements appeared here 6 millennia ago. However, the city’s heyday began only after it was declared the capital. Tarnovgrad began to develop rapidly, and soon contemporaries were enthusiastically calling it “the second city after Constantinople”. Arts and sciences flourished in the city, and thanks to its favourable location Tarnovgrad quickly became an important economic centre as well.

The city is situated on four steep hills – Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Devingrad and Sveta Gora. On the hill

Tsarevets, surrounded on three sides by the Yantra River, a fortress of the same name was built. Here lived the tsars, the patriarch and the boyars. The sheer cliffs were crowned by thick fortress walls that made the fortress impregnable.

Tsarevets

The Tsarevets fortress is one of the country’s hundred national tourist sites. Legend has it that even in Roman times there were fortifications here guarding the trade routes.

Beneath the Roman fortresses there were dungeons and tunnels where the inhabitants hid their treasures from the barbarians. The secret entrances to them were disguised and full of various traps, and only a chosen few could get inside, while treasure hunters not initiated into the secrets of the dungeons never came back out alive.

Today the fortress has been partially restored and is the city’s main landmark. The hill offers stunning views, and in the evenings, after dark, an audiovisual show has been staged at the fortress since 1985, telling the story of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Hundreds of coloured lights and laser beams present the most important events of Bulgarian history to expressive music.

The best place to watch from is the panoramic viewing area near the entrance to the Tsarevets hill, “Tsar Asen” square. There is also a VIP area where you can watch the show in comfort for 20 leva per person.

Practical information

• Admission to the Tsarevets fortress is charged. Adults pay 6 lv for a ticket, children over 7 – 2 lv, a family ticket – 6 lv. Admission is free for pre-school children.
• On the last Thursday of every month the fortress can be visited completely free of charge.
• Opening hours in summer are from 8 to 19, in winter from 9 to 17. Ticket sales stop one hour before closing.
• In summer be sure to bring a bottle of water with you – there is nowhere to buy drinks on the fortress grounds.
• It is advisable to tour the fortress in comfortable shoes, otherwise walking along the cobbled paths will be uncomfortable.
• Climbing on the remains of the fortress walls is strictly discouraged. In general, you should be careful, especially when visiting the fortress with children.
• Snakes may be basking on the stone paths, so it is advisable to watch your step.

Veliki Preslav — the second capital of Bulgaria

A landmark of Bulgaria – the Lovech fortress

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