Veliko Tarnovo is a town in northern Bulgaria that serves as the administrative headquarters for Veliko Tarnovo county. The village is located in the Yantra valley, 241 kilometers from the capital Sofia, 228 kilometers from the city of Varna, and 107 kilometers from the town of Ruse.
Gorna Oryahovitsa airport is located 10 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. This is the town’s nearest airport.
Veliko Tarnovo is also accessible by bus or rail. Regular transportation is available from bigger towns and cities.
The town has a population of around 70 000 people and occupies an area of 30.4 square meters. From antiquity to the current day, the town’s position as a crossroads and crossing point for several highways, trade links, and routes aided in its economic and cultural growth.
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the country’s oldest settlements, with archaeological evidence indicating that it goes all the way back to more than five thousand years ago.
Veliko Tarnovo’s renaissance is connected to the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1393). The town was established as the capital of the reestablished Bulgarian state in 1185 by the brothers Asen and Petar, who also announced the end of the Byzantine authority, which lasted 167 years.
Following its designation as capital, the town grew rapidly, becoming the most impregnable Bulgarian stronghold and cultural and intellectual hub of the country during the 12th and 14th centuries.
Veliko Tarnovo’s most notable cultural landmark is the medieval fortification Tsarevets, which is perched atop the eponymous mountain and bordered on three sides by the river Yantra. Although Tsarevets is encircled by a defended wall, excavations reveal that it was not a closed fortress but a true medieval town, with the following objects rising in its center: the palace, the church “St. Petka,” many residential and business structures, water reservoirs, and combat towers. The Patriarch’s home was located on the highest point of Tsarevets, as was the Patriarch’s cathedral, “The Ascension of Christ.”
Additionally, there is another historical hill near Tsarevets called Trapezitsa. Its historical wealth is immense and has not been fully explored. The archaeological digs on the hill continue, and fresh and intriguing discoveries are continually being made.
Apart from its ancient hills, Veliko Tarnovo is well-known for its many orthodox temples. The temple “St. Forty Holy Martyrs,” built in celebration of Tsar Ivan Asen II’s (1218–1241) victory against Epir Despot Teodor Komnin (1180–1273), is one of the most prominent medieval cathedrals. The Bulgarian tsars Kaloyan (1168–1207) and Ivan Asen II, as well as several other members of the royal families and Bulgarian nobility, are buried here. The orthodox temple has three of the most significant ancient Bulgarian epigraph monuments – the Omurtag column, the Asen column, and the Rodosto fortress’s Border column from the period of Khan Krum (755–814).
Several of Bulgaria’s most prominent monasteries — Patriarsheski, Preobrazhenski, Arbanashki, Plakovski, Kapinovski, and Kilifarevski, to name a few – are located in the town’s surroundings.
Veliko Tarnovo was an attractive location for Bulgarian intellectuals during the Age of Revival (18th–19th centuries). Additionally, the town served as a focal point for the First Revolutionary Region during the 1876 April Uprising against the Ottoman rule.
Veliko Tarnovo served as the interim capital of Bulgaria after the country’s liberation from Ottoman control in 1878. In 1879, the First Constituent Assembly convened and enacted the Tarnovo Constitution. Additionally, the First Grant National Assembly was created here. It chose Prince Alexander I of Batenberg (1857–1893) as the country’s king.
In architectural terms, the look of the town’s historic district transports visitors to another era. While strolling along Gurko or Samovodskata Charshia (the crafts streets), town visitors may witness residences established over 200 years old and experience a very different ambiance. The market street functions as a kind of ethnographic complex, complete with artisan studios, souvenir stores, and galleries.
The majority of the town’s museums are concentrated in the historic district. Among the most fascinating are the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Restoration and Constituent Assembly, the Museum of Contemporary and Most Contemporary History, the Sarafkina House, the P. R. Slaveykov Museum House, the Stambolov Inn, and the Inn of Hadzhi Nikoli.
The archaeological reserve Nikopolis Ad Istrum is located 20 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. It is a Roman and Early Byzantine town built in 106 AD by Emperor Trayan (98–117).
Architectural reserve Arbanasi is located about 6 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. The historic community has retained great architectural masterpieces from the Age of the Bulgarian Revival, as well as antique churches and flower-filled yards.
Veliko Tarnovo’s official day is 22 March. This day commemorates Tsar Ivan Asen II’s great victory against Teodor Komnin (1230). The evening of the festal day is traditionally reserved for a free performance on the Tsarevets hill. The audio-visual show “Sound and Light” tells the tale of Bulgaria’s beautiful and sad past with music, lights, lasers, and church bells, making it a one-of-a-kind attraction for tourists. Additionally, performances are planned throughout the year upon advance request and payment.
It is not coincidental that Veliko Tarnovo has been designated a Balkan center of cultural tourism and has been given the accolade The Most Beautiful Town in Bulgaria many times as a result of yearly media study. The town is stunning, with its lovely mansions perched amphitheatrically along the river banks; it also has a rich history of interesting sites that draw visitors.
Apartments possibilities in the town are quite varied – private accommodation, hostels, guest homes, and hotels with up to four stars. The town has a plethora of entertainment and nightlife options — discotheques, pubs, and restaurants, to name a few. The town’s main street is lined with stores, hotels, entertainment, and dining enterprises. The town’s restaurants are renowned for their delectable food. Here, you may sample popular Bulgarian meals as well as regional specialties.
Numerous environmental routes are available for lovers of active leisure – the Negovanska path (near the town of Emen), the Preobrazhenska path, and the Arbanashka trail, to name a few. Eco trails are designated walking routes across nature that provide visitors with access to stunning local and natural sights. The terrain is ideal for rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding, and the region’s many rivers and dams give excellent fishing and swimming opportunities.
Additional information on hotels, restaurants, landmarks, transportation, numerous attractions and current events, vehicle rentals, and the present status of the town’s eco trails may be obtained at the town’s tourist information center, which is located in the town’s central business district. There, you may acquire informational papers on the Tarnovo sites and place an order for the Sound and Light show.
Population of Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo had a population of 68,783 residents in February 2011, while the Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, which includes the settlements, had a population of 88,670. The city’s population peaked between 1986 and 1991, when it topped 70,000. The following table summarizes the population change since 1887.
Individuals claiming their ethnic identification were distributed as follows in the 2011 census:
Bulgarians: 59,649 (95.5%)
Turks: 2,225 (3.6%)
Roma (Gypsies): 123 (0.2%)
Others: 258 (0.4%)
Indefinable: 198 (0.3%)
Romanians: 100
Undeclared: 6,330 (9.2%)
Climate of Veliko Tarnovo
According to the Köppen climate classification, Veliko Tarnovo has a humid continental climate (Dfa), with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The average lowest temperature in January, the coldest month, is around 7°C (19°F), while the average maximum temperature in August, the warmest month, is approximately 30°C (86°F). The maximum temperature recorded was 41.1 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit), while the lowest was 28.1 degrees Celsius (19 degrees Fahrenheit).
Geography of Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo has an area of 60.9 square kilometers. The town has a total area of 30.379 km2. It is situated on the Yantra river. The town has always been strategically located. It is situated on major thoroughfares connecting the West Balkans to the Black Sea and East Europe to the Middle East. The settlement has an eastern and northern boundary with the Arbanassi Bardo. To the north, the Orlovets locality is located, to the west, the Kozludzha locality is located, and to the south, the Dalga laka region is located.
Veliko Tarnovo’s relief is varied — flat, hilly, and mountainous. It is located at an elevation of 208 meters above sea level.
The river Yantra has a catchment area of 7862 km2. Numerous springs are located in the town’s vicinity. The Yovkovtsi hydroelectric power plant is the primary source of drinking water.
There are many locations across town that have retained their names for many years. Sini Vir is situated in the Yantra River valley, west of the Cholakovtsi neighborhood. Dervent is situated near the Preobrazhenie Monastery in the Yantra River Gorge. Golemyat duvar (Big Fort) is a hill with a maximum elevation of 363 meters. It is situated between Veliko Tarnovo and Prisovo village.
Veliko Tarnovo is built on a series of hills. During the Second Bulgarian State, when the town was a capital, the Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Momina kreposts were the primary headquarters of monarchs and boyars. The Sveta Gora (Holy Mountain) hill was a spiritual and literary center that is now part of Veliko Tarnovo University’s Rectorate. North of Trapezitsa is the Garga Bair hill. The Varusha neighborhood, as well as the Akatsion and Kartala districts, are located on the Orlovets hill, which reaches a height of 241 meters above sea level. Troshana Hill is situated south of Sveta Gora and west of the Motela dam, and is being developed into Veliko Tarnovo Hills.
Around Veliko Tarnovo, there are around 50 caves and rock crevices. They are created in Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones. They are mostly concentrated around the Arbanassi hill and the Dervent gorge’s granite crown.
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a town in northern Bulgaria that serves as the administrative headquarters for Veliko Tarnovo county. The village is located in the Yantra valley, 241 kilometers from the capital Sofia, 228 kilometers from the city of Varna, and 107 kilometers from the town of Ruse.
Gorna Oryahovitsa airport is located 10 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. This is the town’s nearest airport.
Veliko Tarnovo is also accessible by bus or rail. Regular transportation is available from bigger towns and cities.
The town has a population of around 70 000 people and occupies an area of 30.4 square meters. From antiquity to the current day, the town’s position as a crossroads and crossing point for several highways, trade links, and routes aided in its economic and cultural growth.
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the country’s oldest settlements, with archaeological evidence indicating that it goes all the way back to more than five thousand years ago.
Veliko Tarnovo’s renaissance is connected to the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1393). The town was established as the capital of the reestablished Bulgarian state in 1185 by the brothers Asen and Petar, who also announced the end of the Byzantine authority, which lasted 167 years.
Following its designation as capital, the town grew rapidly, becoming the most impregnable Bulgarian stronghold and cultural and intellectual hub of the country during the 12th and 14th centuries.
Veliko Tarnovo’s most notable cultural landmark is the medieval fortification Tsarevets, which is perched atop the eponymous mountain and bordered on three sides by the river Yantra. Although Tsarevets is encircled by a defended wall, excavations reveal that it was not a closed fortress but a true medieval town, with the following objects rising in its center: the palace, the church “St. Petka,” many residential and business structures, water reservoirs, and combat towers. The Patriarch’s home was located on the highest point of Tsarevets, as was the Patriarch’s cathedral, “The Ascension of Christ.”
Additionally, there is another historical hill near Tsarevets called Trapezitsa. Its historical wealth is immense and has not been fully explored. The archaeological digs on the hill continue, and fresh and intriguing discoveries are continually being made.
Apart from its ancient hills, Veliko Tarnovo is well-known for its many orthodox temples. The temple “St. Forty Holy Martyrs,” built in celebration of Tsar Ivan Asen II’s (1218–1241) victory against Epir Despot Teodor Komnin (1180–1273), is one of the most prominent medieval cathedrals. The Bulgarian tsars Kaloyan (1168–1207) and Ivan Asen II, as well as several other members of the royal families and Bulgarian nobility, are buried here. The orthodox temple has three of the most significant ancient Bulgarian epigraph monuments – the Omurtag column, the Asen column, and the Rodosto fortress’s Border column from the period of Khan Krum (755–814).
Several of Bulgaria’s most prominent monasteries — Patriarsheski, Preobrazhenski, Arbanashki, Plakovski, Kapinovski, and Kilifarevski, to name a few – are located in the town’s surroundings.
Veliko Tarnovo was an attractive location for Bulgarian intellectuals during the Age of Revival (18th–19th centuries). Additionally, the town served as a focal point for the First Revolutionary Region during the 1876 April Uprising against the Ottoman rule.
Veliko Tarnovo served as the interim capital of Bulgaria after the country’s liberation from Ottoman control in 1878. In 1879, the First Constituent Assembly convened and enacted the Tarnovo Constitution. Additionally, the First Grant National Assembly was created here. It chose Prince Alexander I of Batenberg (1857–1893) as the country’s king.
In architectural terms, the look of the town’s historic district transports visitors to another era. While strolling along Gurko or Samovodskata Charshia (the crafts streets), town visitors may witness residences established over 200 years old and experience a very different ambiance. The market street functions as a kind of ethnographic complex, complete with artisan studios, souvenir stores, and galleries.
The majority of the town’s museums are concentrated in the historic district. Among the most fascinating are the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Restoration and Constituent Assembly, the Museum of Contemporary and Most Contemporary History, the Sarafkina House, the P. R. Slaveykov Museum House, the Stambolov Inn, and the Inn of Hadzhi Nikoli.
The archaeological reserve Nikopolis Ad Istrum is located 20 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. It is a Roman and Early Byzantine town built in 106 AD by Emperor Trayan (98–117).
Architectural reserve Arbanasi is located about 6 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. The historic community has retained great architectural masterpieces from the Age of the Bulgarian Revival, as well as antique churches and flower-filled yards.
Veliko Tarnovo’s official day is 22 March. This day commemorates Tsar Ivan Asen II’s great victory against Teodor Komnin (1230). The evening of the festal day is traditionally reserved for a free performance on the Tsarevets hill. The audio-visual show “Sound and Light” tells the tale of Bulgaria’s beautiful and sad past with music, lights, lasers, and church bells, making it a one-of-a-kind attraction for tourists. Additionally, performances are planned throughout the year upon advance request and payment.
It is not coincidental that Veliko Tarnovo has been designated a Balkan center of cultural tourism and has been given the accolade The Most Beautiful Town in Bulgaria many times as a result of yearly media study. The town is stunning, with its lovely mansions perched amphitheatrically along the river banks; it also has a rich history of interesting sites that draw visitors.
Apartments possibilities in the town are quite varied – private accommodation, hostels, guest homes, and hotels with up to four stars. The town has a plethora of entertainment and nightlife options — discotheques, pubs, and restaurants, to name a few. The town’s main street is lined with stores, hotels, entertainment, and dining enterprises. The town’s restaurants are renowned for their delectable food. Here, you may sample popular Bulgarian meals as well as regional specialties.
Numerous environmental routes are available for lovers of active leisure – the Negovanska path (near the town of Emen), the Preobrazhenska path, and the Arbanashka trail, to name a few. Eco trails are designated walking routes across nature that provide visitors with access to stunning local and natural sights. The terrain is ideal for rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding, and the region’s many rivers and dams give excellent fishing and swimming opportunities.
Additional information on hotels, restaurants, landmarks, transportation, numerous attractions and current events, vehicle rentals, and the present status of the town’s eco trails may be obtained at the town’s tourist information center, which is located in the town’s central business district. There, you may acquire informational papers on the Tarnovo sites and place an order for the Sound and Light show.
Population of Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo had a population of 68,783 residents in February 2011, while the Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, which includes the settlements, had a population of 88,670. The city’s population peaked between 1986 and 1991, when it topped 70,000. The following table summarizes the population change since 1887.
Individuals claiming their ethnic identification were distributed as follows in the 2011 census:
Climate of Veliko Tarnovo
According to the Köppen climate classification, Veliko Tarnovo has a humid continental climate (Dfa), with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The average lowest temperature in January, the coldest month, is around 7°C (19°F), while the average maximum temperature in August, the warmest month, is approximately 30°C (86°F). The maximum temperature recorded was 41.1 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit), while the lowest was 28.1 degrees Celsius (19 degrees Fahrenheit).
Geography of Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo has an area of 60.9 square kilometers. The town has a total area of 30.379 km2. It is situated on the Yantra river. The town has always been strategically located. It is situated on major thoroughfares connecting the West Balkans to the Black Sea and East Europe to the Middle East. The settlement has an eastern and northern boundary with the Arbanassi Bardo. To the north, the Orlovets locality is located, to the west, the Kozludzha locality is located, and to the south, the Dalga laka region is located.
Veliko Tarnovo’s relief is varied — flat, hilly, and mountainous. It is located at an elevation of 208 meters above sea level.
The river Yantra has a catchment area of 7862 km2. Numerous springs are located in the town’s vicinity. The Yovkovtsi hydroelectric power plant is the primary source of drinking water.
There are many locations across town that have retained their names for many years. Sini Vir is situated in the Yantra River valley, west of the Cholakovtsi neighborhood. Dervent is situated near the Preobrazhenie Monastery in the Yantra River Gorge. Golemyat duvar (Big Fort) is a hill with a maximum elevation of 363 meters. It is situated between Veliko Tarnovo and Prisovo village.
Veliko Tarnovo is built on a series of hills. During the Second Bulgarian State, when the town was a capital, the Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Momina kreposts were the primary headquarters of monarchs and boyars. The Sveta Gora (Holy Mountain) hill was a spiritual and literary center that is now part of Veliko Tarnovo University’s Rectorate. North of Trapezitsa is the Garga Bair hill. The Varusha neighborhood, as well as the Akatsion and Kartala districts, are located on the Orlovets hill, which reaches a height of 241 meters above sea level. Troshana Hill is situated south of Sveta Gora and west of the Motela dam, and is being developed into Veliko Tarnovo Hills.
Around Veliko Tarnovo, there are around 50 caves and rock crevices. They are created in Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones. They are mostly concentrated around the Arbanassi hill and the Dervent gorge’s granite crown.
Go Next...
Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and biggest city. Sofia, with a population of over 1.2
Golden Sands (Bulgarian: Zlatni pyasatsi) is a significant coastal resort town on Bulgaria’s northern Black
Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second biggest city, with a population of 341,567 in 2015 and a
Borovets ski resort is 12 kilometers from Samokov and 72 kilometers from Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.
Varna is the largest city and beach resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, as well
Sozopol is situated on a picturesque bay on the southern Bulgarian coast, about 35 kilometers
Nesebar (often spelled Nessebar and sometimes Nesebur) is a historic city and one of
Burgas, sometimes spelled Bourgas, is the second biggest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Bansko is Bulgaria’s flagship ski resort, with the biggest ski area, significant historical value,
Sunny Beach is Bulgaria’s biggest resort. It is located between the town of Nesebar and
More posts