Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Turnovo - Велико Търново

When we first arrived in Veliko Turnovo, it was very much the start of a love affair. It has some wonderful restaurants to compliment some of the amazing views and architecture.

Tsaravets

Whilst in Veliko Turnovo, it is a must to visit the castle of the old Bulgarian capital - Tsarevets. Sited on a hill on a bend of the river, Tsaravets is an imposing sight by day and on certain nights, the setting for a sound and light show.

The city is divided into old and new parts with the old quarter to the east. This is the most visited area of the city although the new part contains a park with newly renovated fountain and is well worth the time to seek it out.
Perhaps second to Tsaravets is Samovodska Charshiya with its cobbled street being flanked by craft and gift shops.

 

Samovodska Charshiya Craft Shops

Veliko Turnovo is a town with very rich and colourful history, also translated as Veliko Tarnovo, it was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and has long traditions in the culture of Bulgaria. The city has many museums and historical sites, combined with lively night life driven by the students in one of the largest universities in Bulgaria.

Forty Martyrs Church

Interior - Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension

Monument of Mother Bulgaria

The old city is a collection of colouful traditional renaissance houses scattered over the hills around the river Yantra whilst the new part consists of a mixture of communistic and modern style buildings.

Monument of the Assens - The Four Kings

 There are various historical museums, located in Old Town, and an art museum sited by the monument to the Four Kings between the old and new areas in the river.

From the 4 Kings monument some great views of the old town can be seen.