What about it:
More than 200 years Tarnovo is a very important cultural center as it is the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and inheritor of prehistoric and Thracian culture. Often referred to as the “City of the Tsars”, it is located on the Yantra River and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. The old part of the city is situated on the three hills Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora, rising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian emperors and the Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cathedral, and also a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls.
How to get there:
The fastest and most convenient way to get to Veliko Tarnovo is by bus. There are buses at every half an hour until midnight from the Central Bus Station. There are Bus Companies that work with this destination. It takes about 3 – 3, 30 hours. The price of the ticket is about 20 leva.
Where to stay:
Guesthouse “Rossen Denchev”, situated in the central part of the town. It offers a double bed room and a suite for 4 persons.
Family hotel “GURKO” *** is located in the most picturesque part of the Old Town, over viewing the river. It has a small restaurant and offers accommodation in 9 double rooms and 2 apartments.
Guesthouse “Kashtata” **, in the old part of the city; it offers parking lot, 3 spacious and comfortable apartments with private WC/shower and one big studio. Extra services: breakfast and laundry.
What’s interesting:
- Architectural – museum reserve “Tsarevets”: political and cultural center of The Medieval Bulgarian Kingdom; you can observe here an audio – visual show “Sound and Light”
- Street “Gurko” – a picturesque street in the old town
- Samovodska Charshia – the old handicrafts street from Bulgarian Revival times
Surroundings:
- The village of Arbanassi – an architectural reserve perched on a plateau 4 km northeast of the town, it preserves unique monuments of Bulgarian National Revival architecture.
- The Preobrazhenski Monastery (the monastery of “Transfiguration”) you can reach on foot walking through a nice forest, 7km away from the town
- Eco trail in the Emen gorge of Negovanka river approximately 25km west of Veliko Tarnovo
- The town of Dryanovo, Dryanovo Monastery and “Bacho Kiro” cave on 20 km south of Veliko Tarnovo
