{"id":4311,"date":"2022-07-26T04:34:21","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T04:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelshelper.com\/bulgaria\/?p=4311"},"modified":"2022-07-31T19:04:52","modified_gmt":"2022-07-31T19:04:52","slug":"veliko-tarnovo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelshelper.com\/bulgaria\/veliko-tarnovo\/","title":{"rendered":"Veliko Tarnovo"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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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.<\/p>

Gorna Oryahovitsa airport is located 10 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo. This is the town\u2019s nearest airport.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo is also accessible by bus or rail. Regular transportation is available from bigger towns and cities.<\/p>

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\u2019s position as a crossroads and crossing point for several highways, trade links, and routes aided in its economic and cultural growth.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo is one of the country\u2019s oldest settlements, with archaeological evidence indicating that it goes all the way back to more than five thousand years ago.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo\u2019s renaissance is connected to the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185\u20131393). 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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo\u2019s 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 \u201cSt. Petka,\u201d many residential and business structures, water reservoirs, and combat towers. The Patriarch\u2019s home was located on the highest point of Tsarevets, as was the Patriarch\u2019s cathedral, \u201cThe Ascension of Christ.\u201d<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Apart from its ancient hills, Veliko Tarnovo is well-known for its many orthodox temples. The temple \u201cSt. Forty Holy Martyrs,\u201d built in celebration of Tsar Ivan Asen II\u2019s (1218\u20131241) victory against Epir Despot Teodor Komnin (1180\u20131273), is one of the most prominent medieval cathedrals. The Bulgarian tsars Kaloyan (1168\u20131207) 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 \u2013 the Omurtag column, the Asen column, and the Rodosto fortress\u2019s Border column from the period of Khan Krum (755\u2013814).<\/p>

Several of Bulgaria\u2019s most prominent monasteries \u2014 Patriarsheski, Preobrazhenski, Arbanashki, Plakovski, Kapinovski, and Kilifarevski, to name a few \u2013 are located in the town\u2019s surroundings.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo was an attractive location for Bulgarian intellectuals during the Age of Revival (18th\u201319th centuries). Additionally, the town served as a focal point for the First Revolutionary Region during the 1876 April Uprising against the Ottoman rule.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo served as the interim capital of Bulgaria after the country\u2019s 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\u20131893) as the country\u2019s king.<\/p>

In architectural terms, the look of the town\u2019s 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.<\/p>

The majority of the town\u2019s 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.<\/p>

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\u2013117).<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Veliko Tarnovo\u2019s official day is 22 March. This day commemorates Tsar Ivan Asen II\u2019s 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 \u201cSound and Light\u201d tells the tale of Bulgaria\u2019s 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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Apartments possibilities in the town are quite varied \u2013 private accommodation, hostels, guest homes, and hotels with up to four stars. The town has a plethora of entertainment and nightlife options \u2014 discotheques, pubs, and restaurants, to name a few. The town\u2019s main street is lined with stores, hotels, entertainment, and dining enterprises. The town\u2019s restaurants are renowned for their delectable food. Here, you may sample popular Bulgarian meals as well as regional specialties.<\/p>

Numerous environmental routes are available for lovers of active leisure \u2013 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\u2019s many rivers and dams give excellent fishing and swimming opportunities.<\/p>

Additional information on hotels, restaurants, landmarks, transportation, numerous attractions and current events, vehicle rentals, and the present status of the town\u2019s eco trails may be obtained at the town\u2019s tourist information center, which is located in the town\u2019s central business district. There, you may acquire informational papers on the Tarnovo sites and place an order for the Sound and Light show.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Population of Veliko Tarnovo<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.\u00a0 The city\u2019s population peaked between 1986 and 1991, when it topped 70,000. The following table summarizes the population change since 1887.<\/p>

Individuals claiming their ethnic identification were distributed as follows in the 2011 census:<\/p>