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Veliko Tarnovo - the
Medieval Capital of Bulgaria
The town of Veliko Turnovo with population of 74 800 is situated in central
Bulgaria, at the foot of the Balkan Mountain, 210 meters above the sea
level. It is regally situated along the historical hills of Tsarevets,
Trapezitza and Sveta Gora on the two banks of the Yantra River. The
municipality centre of the area lies at almost same distance from the
biggest Bulgarian towns – 241 km northeast of Sofia, 228 km southwest of
Varna, 192 km northeast of Plovdiv, and 224 km northwest of Bourgas.
The favourable climate, the presence of numerous natural and historical
landmarks, the full of fauna forests, the vine growing conditions and the
development of the national crafts attract thousands of tourists throughout
the year, making the town and the surrounding areas great investment spots
for businesses and private individuals alike.
 The
precipitously perched houses of Veliko Tarnovo seem poised to leap into the
chasms that divide the city into separate quarters. Medieval fortifications
girdling the Tsarevets massif add melodrama to the scene, yet even more
transfixing are the huddles of antique houses with “organic” architecture,
and even the dour Prussian Field Marshal von Moltke was moved to remark
that he had “never seen a town of more romantic location”. Just northeast of
the town is the village of Arbanassi -proclaimed an architectural reserve
the house prices there are already comparable with those in the UK. Nearby
there are unique monuments of the Bulgarian National Revival architecture:
There are altogether 5 monasteries near the old Bulgarian capital to visit
and with the ruins of Nikopolis and Istrum, an old Roman majestic town near
the village of Nikiup all ad to the magnificence of that medieval Bulgarian
town.
For those in need of spa treatment or just for enjoinment you can take a
bath in a nearby popular spa resort of Voneshta Voda (Stinky Water), just
28 km to the south. There is a cure complex with mineral water within the
settlement's centre.
Travel
Bus and railway transport services the interurban connections of the town.
Daily trains to Bucharest (5 hours) and Istanbul; frequent connections from
Gorna Oryahovitza where all several daily trains between Sofia and Varna
stop; bus links with towns like Dryanovo, Tryavna and Gabrovo to the South,
Rouse and Svistov to the North.
Accommodation
If you haven't bought a property yet and you need place to stay, hotels are
plentiful, with growing number of small, family-run places competing with
the larger and older establishments. More are to be found out of town in
Arbanasi, which makes an appealing rural alternative to staying in the city. |