Complete guide to Veliko Tarnovo’s main landmarks with descriptions, travel guides, and maps.
Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgarian: Велико Търново) is a historic city in northern Bulgaria. This ancient capital of the medieval Bulgarian Empire breathes history and boasts numerous remarkable architectural monuments. Veliko Tarnovo is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful cities, often called the “City of Tsars,” highlighting its crucial historical significance. It is built around the bends of the Yantra River, forming steep slopes where the Old Town is situated. The historic center lies on three hills: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora, while the new city occupies the plain west of the hills.
Veliko Tarnovo is located in the northern foothills of the Balkans, along the slopes of the Yantra River valley. The city has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cool winters.
Settlements in modern Veliko Tarnovo date back to ancient times. The city gained key importance between 1185 and 1393 when it served as the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and the residence of Bulgarian kings. In the 14th century, as the Byzantine Empire weakened, Veliko Tarnovo declared itself the “Third Rome,” based on its significant cultural influence in Eastern Europe.
The city’s development slowed in the late 14th century after the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria. During Ottoman rule, Veliko Tarnovo remained an important economic and trade center. It was also a hub of the Bulgarian National Revival. Two major anti-Ottoman uprisings in 1598 and 1686 began here.
In 1879, the first Bulgarian Constitution was adopted in Veliko Tarnovo.
Veliko Tarnovo can be reached by train from Bucharest and Sofia. The city also has regular bus connections with most major Bulgarian cities.
Veliko Tarnovo has a magnificent Old Town located on three hills: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora. The historic center features charming streets with beautiful houses in the Bulgarian National Revival style. The Old Town also includes several ancient churches and the ruins of an old fortress—the medieval residence of Bulgarian tsars.
Many ancient houses seem to hang over the slopes of the Yantra River, creating picturesque views.
A popular tourist spot is the Stambolov Bridge, which crosses the Yantra River and serves as an excellent viewpoint. The bridge was built in 1892 from steel and concrete, making it one of the first steel bridges on the Balkan Peninsula.
Tsarevets is the main landmark of Veliko Tarnovo. This medieval fortress, located on the eponymous hill, served as the residence of Bulgarian tsars during the Second Bulgarian Empire. It consists of significant ruins from the 12th-13th centuries, with a beautiful church at the highest point. The northern part of the fortress includes fragments of a 16th-century monastery. The fortress is massive, with hundreds of meters of stone walls, some up to 4 meters thick. The historical complex covers over 15,000 square meters.
Entrance fee: 6 leva.
Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension is the main symbol of Tsarevets. This ancient three-nave church is located at the top of the hill, built in Byzantine style with a traditional stone facade. Once, its interior was decorated with mosaics of multicolored marble and precious stones, as well as frescoes. Unfortunately, the original decorations have not survived. During the last reconstruction, Bulgarian artist Theophanes Sokerov repainted it with modernist-style depictions of Bulgarian history, creating a rather unusual effect.
Entrance fee: 2 leva.
Cathedral is a significant religious structure from 1842-1844, featuring numerous domes and arches. From the square where the cathedral stands, there is a splendid view of Trapezitsa Hill to the north.
Monument to the Asen Dynasty is a historical monument erected in 1985. The sword, around which four Bulgarian kings are positioned, symbolizes the power and rise of medieval Bulgaria.
Church of the Forty Martyrs is a small medieval church built in the first half of the 13th century. It is an elongated six-column basilica with three semicircular apses and a narrow narthex on the west. The church’s interior was covered with wall paintings, likely in 1230. The western annex preserves part of the original exterior decoration with traditional arches and colorful ceramic plates.
Opposite this church is the tiny Dormition Church, built in 1923 on the foundation of a ruined 14th-century medieval structure.
Church of Saints Peter, Paul, and John is one of the few medieval Bulgarian churches that survived and functioned from the early 13th century until the 1913 earthquake. It was built during the reign of Tsar Kaloyan and was part of a monastery. The church is a three-nave basilica with a cross-shaped dome and one apse, featuring remarkable wall paintings.
Church of Saint Demetrius was founded in the 12th century. The original building was destroyed during a severe earthquake on June 1, 1913, and reconstructed between 1976-1985. Only parts of the altar remain from the old church.
Archaeological Museum features excellent exhibits illustrating the millennia-long history and culture of the city. It includes archaeological finds from Thracian, Ancient Greek, and Roman times, as well as historical artifacts from the Second Bulgarian Empire period.
One of the most interesting places near Veliko Tarnovo is the small village of Arbanasi, with ancient sacred landmarks.
Monastery of Saint Nicholas is a medieval monastery located in a small valley in the southwestern part of Arbanasi. It was looted and burned in 1393, 1717, and 1729. The monastery was abandoned in 1744 due to a plague epidemic.
Church of the Nativity of Christ is the earliest and most richly decorated church in Arbanasi. It was built in the Middle Ages, with the oldest layer of wall paintings dating back to the late 14th century.
Church of Saint Demetrius is located in the center of Arbanasi. This small stone building has a gabled roof and frescoes completed in 1621.
Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel is one of the most beautiful churches built in Arbanasi in the 17th-18th centuries. This simple stone structure features stunning wall paintings.
Holy Trinity Monastery was founded in 1070 and is located 6 km north of Veliko Tarnovo. The surrounding rocks contain caves that were converted into cells and chapels in the Middle Ages. The monastery church was built in 1847 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1913.
Plakovski Monastery of Saint Elijah was founded in the 13th century. It was destroyed during the Ottoman invasion in 1393 and reconstructed in 1450. The monastery was repeatedly attacked and burned afterward: in 1595, 1706, 1784, 1835, and 1842.
Transfiguration Monastery is one of the largest and most beautiful monasteries in Bulgaria, located 7 km from Veliko Tarnovo. Founded in the 11th century, it sits in the picturesque Belakovski Plateau.
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