Veliko Tarnovo
It is a 35-minute drive from Villa Renee to the beautiful old medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo. Here you can meander through the old streets, sit in the many (very reasonably priced) restaurants and soak up the atmosphere of this lovely, unspoilt town. In the newer quarters you will find state-of-the-art shops, cinemas, bowling alleys, etc. The choice is yours!
The large, outdoor market is a wonderful place to stock up; everyone brings along their home-grown produce – fresh and scrumptious. It's great fun shopping and chatting to the locals who welcome your interest and support.
Places of interest
One of Bulgaria's primary tourist destinations, Veliko Tarnovo boasts many historical monuments and landmarks:
- the fortress hills of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa
- monasteries, churches and cathedrals
- Bishop's Bridge
- museum of The Bulgarian Revival
- Samovodska Charshia, a street of traditional crafts workshops, souvenir shops and art galleries
- House with the Monkey
- Mother Bulgaria monument
- City Art Gallery.
History of Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest settlements in Bulgaria; human traces dating to 3,000 BC have been found. It was the strongest Bulgarian fortress between the 12th and 14th centuries, and the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire at this time.
Like the rest of Bulgaria it was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th–19th century. In deference to the city's past, Tsar Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg Gotha chose the St Forty Martyrs Church as the place to declare the complete independence of Bulgaria in 1908.
In 1965, the city, then officially known as Tarnovo, was renamed to Veliko Tarnovo (Great Tarnovo) to commemorate its rich history and importance.
Text taken from the Wikipedia article on Veliko Tarnovo.
Visit www.velikoturnovo.info for more information.