Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo is an ancient city located on a naturally fortified hill in one of the bends of the Yantra River, north of the Balkan Mountains. It rose to prominence in the Middle Ages when it served as the capital of Bulgaria. From here came the Asen brothers, who rebelled against the Byzantines, gained independence, and founded the Second Bulgarian Empire (12th–14th centuries).

The city is one of the most impressive places to visit in Bulgaria. It is reminiscent of medieval cities in Europe, and at its heart is a towering fortress with walls and towers, surrounded by gardens, with a king’s palace. The fortress looks like it came out of a fairy tale. In one of the towers in the wall, the crusader king of Constantinople, Baldwin I, who was captured by the Bulgarians in the 13th century, was imprisoned and died. At the top of the hill is a beautiful cathedral church (belonging to the patriarch), to which a bridge and an impressive gate structure lead.

veliko tarnovo and river Bulgaria

Outside the citadel is the new city, with several quarters of ancient streets and revival-style houses. The city is known for its many artists, especially in the fields of icon painting and wood carving. It has several museums and galleries. Around and within the city there are many monasteries, churches, and holy sites. Near the river is the Church of the Forty Saints, founded by the Asen brothers in the 13th century to commemorate their victory over the Byzantines (which happened on the day of the Forty Saints). For many years, it was the most important church in Bulgaria.

Near Veliko Tarnovo is the village of Arbanasi, a place of monasteries and art. In the 17th–18th centuries, wealthy Christian families who were removed from nearby Veliko Tarnovo moved here and developed a rich cultural life. Today it is a tourist site, but in the past, the village served as a retreat and meeting place for the White Brotherhood founded by Peter Dunov in the early 20th century. In Arbanasi, he received some of his most important visions.

church in veliko tarnovo Bulgaria