Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most important educational, historical, cultural, and tourist centers in modern Bulgaria. The town is geographical and communicational center of Northern Bulgaria. Its location is in the middle of the highway Sofia - Varna. From these towns the city is at a distance of 240 and 250 kilometers. The unique geographical position, infrastructure and architecture, the combination of historical and tourist landmarks with perspectives of future development of the town are on their way to turn it into a town-symbol of Bulgaria all over the world. Veliko Tarnovo is among the ten most preferable by the tourists places in East Europe.

Quick facts about City of Veliko Tarnovo
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Велико Търново
Location: North-Central Bulgaria
Distance to capital city: 196 km from Sofia
Latitude: 43.086 N
Longitude: 25.656 E
Altitude: 100 - 199 m above sea level
Province: Veliko Tarnovo District
Municipality: Veliko Tarnovo Municipality
Area size of City of Veliko Tarnovo: 30.379 sq km
Population of City of Veliko Tarnovo: 66 272 inhabitants (to 01/01/2007)
Post code (ZIP): 5000
Phone code: 062 from Bulgaria, 0035962 from outside

History
Veliko Tarnovo is the town with the most glorious historical past in Bulgaria. It is symbol of Bulgarian statehood and a source of national pride for every Bulgarian. Each little place in it is history.
The earliest traces were found on the Trapezitsa Hill (dating back to first half of the 3rd millenium 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).
The next layer of Tsarevets is early Byzantine, from the 5th to the first half of the 7th century when there was a fortified town on the hill (one of the supporting points of Byzantium in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula), which withstood for 3 centuries. A big Slavonic-Bulgarian settlement of the 8th to 10th century was founded on the ruins of this town. At the end of the 10th century the hill was already densely populated and in the 12th century it was a fortified town and a significant economic centre.
The origin of the name is related to the Slavonic word "tern" or "trun" (thorn) and during the years it developed into Ternov, Trunov, Turnov, Turnovgrad, Turnovo and Veliko Turnovo, being called "Veliko" (Great) in relation to its size, beauty and grandeur. In 1187 the Uprising of Assen and Peter was successfully completed, the Byzantine Rule was thrown off and Turnovgrad became the capital (the third capital in the history of Bulgaria) of the restored Bulgarian Kingdom. The following two centuries are "golden" in the history of the town.
The Tsar's Palace and the Bulgarian Patriarchy were situated on the Tsarevets Hill and the houses of the boyars and the senior priesthood as well as a lot of churches were situated on Trapezeitsa Hill. Assenova Mahala (quarter), located between the above mentioned hills, by the Yantra River, was inhabited by craftsmen. The district of foreign merchants (Franks) was to the south-east of the Baldwin Tower. Thick fortified walls of the "internal town" protected Tsarevets and Trapezitsa. The other two quarter also had fortified protection and formed the "external town". Solely the dwellings of the destitute among the non-privileged people remained outside the fortifications at the foothill of the Momina Krepost (Maiden's Fortress) Hill, in the immediate proximity of the Yantra River. During the 13th and 14th centuries the capital of Bulgaria was a big political, economic, trade and cultural centre in Europe. The Bulgarian State reached the heights of its development during this period. Along with Byzantium it was the first power on the Old Continent. Magnificent palaces, monasteries, churches, fortifications, bridges, big houses were built here. The Tarnovo School of Painting and the Tarnovo Literary School, whose founders, organisers and most prominent representatives are Patriarch Evtimii and Teodosii Tarnovski (of Tarnovo), developed and carried out their versatile activities here. All the prosperity and spiritual upsurge was discontinued on 17th July 1393, when after a 3-month siege Veliko Tarnovo, and gradually the whole of Bulgaria succumbed under Ottoman Rule...The Metropolitan town was in ashes.
Centuries were to pass before the town was able to recuperate and experience a new economic, cultural and political upsurge during the Revival period. Crafts developed, trade flourished, beautiful houses, public buildings, churches (with the greatest contribution in that respect belonging to the unsurprassed Master Kolyu Ficheto), the aspiration for the enlightenment and national self-awareness started to find  their implementation and the struggle for ecclesiastical and nationl independence gained strength. The population of the old Bulgarian Metropolis took part in the Tarnovo Uprisings of 1598, 1686 and 1700, in Velcho Conspiracy (1835), in the Uprising of Captain Dyado Nikola (1856), in Hadzhi Stavrev's Revolt (1862) and in the April Uprising of the rebellious year of 1876. Then Bacho Kiro, Tsanko Dyustabanov and a lot of other fighters for freedom were hanged under the gallows erected in the town square. The Apostle Levski came here more than once (the last time in 1872, ubfortunately enchained).
On 7th July 1877 Veliko Tarnovo was free again. From 10th February to 16th April 1879 the Constituent Assembly, which developed the First Bulgarian Constitution - the Tarnovo Constitution, one of the most democratic constitutions in Europe for that time, convened here. On 17th April 1879 the first Great National Assembly of liberated Bulgaria convened in Veliko Tarnovo to elect a head of state. On 27th July the same year Alexander Battenberg was elected as Bulgaria's knyaz (first prince). It was namely here that on 6th September 1885 Stefan Stambolov and Petko Karavelov made the decision to acknowledge the union of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Roumelia.
Although Sofia became the capital of Bulgaria after the Liberation, Veliko Tarnovo continued to be a sanctuary 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 a lot of other eminent Bulgarians.

Landmarks
The Tsarevets Hill Archaeological Reserve in the eastern part of the modern town - the fortified wall, which in combination with the natural endowments, provided safety of the institutions which were of the greatest importance fir the Bulgarian state, is restored. The so-called Baldwin Tower in which Tsar Kaloyan confined the Latin Emperor Baldwin after his capture during the defeat of the Crusaders in 1205 near Odrin rises in its most southern part. One of the most interesting sites is the Palace of Bulgarian Tsars representing an independent fortress situated on the area of 4872 square metres. The most impressive premises in the Palace were the Throne Hall and St. Petka Palace Church. The Palace whose building was expanded several times during the 13th and 14th century, was completely destroyed after the town fell under Ottoman Rule.
The second largest architectural complex of Tsarevets is Bulgarian Patriarchy. The Patriarchal complex rose at the highest place, above the Tsar's Palace. It occupied an area of about 3000 square metres, as an individual fortress in the shape of an irregular polygon. The Lord's Ascension Patriarchal Church with a belfry tower - a phenomenon scarcely met in the ecclesiastical architecture on the Balkans rose in the centre of the yard. The excavated foundations of residental buildings and churches along the steep slope of Tsarevets, east and south of the Patriarchy, forming a little quarter of the Medieval town are of a special interest. A big boyar settlement north of Tsarevets was studied, too which with its architectural pattern is the prototype of Bulgarian Revival house. One of the most valuable Medieval Bulgarian monuments - Forty Holy Martyrs Church is situated at the western foothill of Tsarevets Hill, near the river. It was erected by order of Tsar Ivan Assen II in honour of his great victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa on 22nd March 1230. During the 18th century the Turks turned it into a mosque but a part of the valuables contained in it are still preserved. Thus, for instance, the three preserved stone columns - Assen's, Omourtag's and the one from the Rodosto Fortress are of an exceptional importance to historical science and prove the succession in the Bulgarian statehood.
Tsar Kaloyan's grave and his golden 61-gram ring-seal were found during excavation works in the 1970-ies. The St. St. Peter and Pavel Church rises at the foothill of the northern slope of Tsarevets - the only better preserved church from Medieval Turnovgrad. After the town succumbed to Ottoman Rule the Bulgarian Patriarchy and the whole Patriarchal library was moved to it. The last Bulgarian Patriarch - Evtimii served in this church for about two years before being sent in exile.
Tsarevets Hill finishes in its north-eastern end with a strongly protruding over the Yantra River Lobna Skala (Rock at the place of death) from which traitors were thrown down.
The "Rakovski" street of today has been one of the liveliest and crowded craft and market street of Veliko Tarnovo, known as "Samovodska Charshia". Today most of the houses and workshops along the street are restored. The masters use old technologies and work with the original tools while visitors may watch them creating their crafts. Active workshops are: a potter, an icon painters studio, a carver, goldsmith, art glass studio, a weaver, a coppersmith, a workshop where kadaif is made, a confectioner, herbal shop and more. This is one of the few places in Bulgaria that has kept the atmosphere of the Bulgarian Revival street. You can find unique items of gold jewelry, guns, pottery or wood-carved pieces at the numerous souvenir and antique shops that are located at the street.  If you stop for a break you can try the famous kadaif or white sugary jam, or have a cup of Turkish coffee prepared on hot sand. The monument of one of the greatest politicians from the late 19th century Stefan Stambolov stands at the beginning of the street and, on the Samovodska Charshia square is located the house, where the great Bulgarian writer Emilian Stanev was born, which nowadays exists as a museum.

Surrounding areas
The village of Arbanassi - Architecture and Historical Reserve located at the distance of 4 km north-east of Veliko Tarnovo. Its flourishing as a trade and craftsmen's centre was during the 16th to the 18th century when the monumental houses and churches with a rich interior decoration, woodcarvings and mural paintings were built. These are unique monuments of our architectural and artistic heritage. The Arbanassi type of houses may be defined as dwellings - fortresses. The most interesting are Konstantsaliev's House (housing a museum collection), Hadzhiiliev's House, Kandilarov's House, Nikolchokostov's House and others. The following churches deserve special attention, too - Birth of the Holly Son Church, Archangel Michail and Gavrail Church, St. Atanas Church, St. Georgi Church. Arbanassi is the birthplace of Ilarion Dragostinov, chief apostle of the Sliven Revolutionary District in the April Uprising. There is a taxi service running every 30 to 40 minutes between Gorna Oryahovitsa and Veliko Tarnovo passing by the road fork for the village (1 km).
The Preobrazhenski Monastery is situated at the distance of 6 to 7 km north of Veliko Turnovo, under the inaccessible sheer rocks of the left bank of the Yantra River. It flourished during the 14th century. It was repeatedly ruined and destroyed by fire during the years of Ottoman Rule and rebuilt in the first half of the 19th century. One of the most remarkable monuments of Bulgarian Revival Period architecture and iconography. It includes 4 churches. The Central Transfiguration Church was started to be built by Master Dimitur Sofialiyata (of Sofia) who was hanged because of his participation in Velcho's Conspiracy (1835). Master Kolyu Ficheto completed it. It was painted by Zakhari Zograph (the Icon-painter), two of his compositions being of a particularly high artistic value - "Doomsday" (on the whole eastern wall of the nartex) and the "Wheel of Life" (on the southern outside wall). The wood-carved iconostasis and the iconostasis icons, work of masters from Tryavna are remarkable, too. The  masterpiece of the painter of the Revival Period Stanislav Dospevski - "St. Apostle Andrei" is exhibited here as well.
The next Annunciation Church was built by the Master Kolyu Ficheto and Stanislav Dospevski painted the icons. Dimitar Sofialiata built the little underground St. Andrei Church, and the icons were painted by the unique icon-painter and wood-carver Papa Vitan, one of the most eminent  representatives of Tryavna School of Art. The last of the monastery churches is Lazar's Ascension Church (of 1891), whose  icons were painted by the citizen of Tryavna Ivancho Kunchev. A bell tower with a clock built by Kolyu Ficheto (1860) rises in the courtyard of the monastery. The largest bell was a gift by the Russian Emperor Alexander II for the services of the monastery as a Russian military hospital during the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation. Matei Preoprazhenski - Mitkaloto (the Wanderer), Pop (Priest) Hariton, Father Zotik lived and worked in the monastery. Vassil Levski, Angel Kunchev, Philip Totyu, Stefan Stambolov, Georgi Izmirliev found a safe shelter here. There is a regular bus to the motorway and it is about a 30 to 40-minute walk from here.
One of the oldest monasteries around Veliko Tarnovo - Sveta Ttroitsa Monastery (The Holy Trinity) is located on the right bank of Yantra River opposite the Preobrazhenski Monastery. It originated about the year 1070. It was called Assen's, Shishman's (after Bulgarian tsars), Patriarch's Monastery. It is related to the literary activities of Monk Evtimii up to his election as a Patriarch in 1375. Having returned back to Bulgaria from Sveta Gora Monasteries on Athos in 1371, he settled down here and created the renowned literary school known as the Tarnovo School. This School developed the great spelling reform and established the language standards. Master Kolyu Ficheto erected the present Monastery Church in 1847.
It can be reached by bus and on foot from Veliko Tarnovo and from the village of Samovodene or along a picturesque track under the rocks of the Yantra River in about a 2-hours' walk from the town.