The City of Veliko Turnovo

Trip Start Sep 22, 2008
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Trip End Nov 06, 2008


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Flag of Bulgaria  , Veliko Tarnovo,
Friday, October 24, 2008

Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgarian: Велико Търново, sometimes transliterated as Veliko Turnovo) is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Turnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture.
The old city is situated on three hills, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora raising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. Tsarevets housed the palaces of the Bulgarian Emperors and the Patriarchate, as well as a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls. Trapezitsa was known for its many churches and as the main residence of the nobility. In the Middle ages it was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the Tarnovo Artistic School of architecture, painting and literature. With its spectacular location and magnificent architecture, Veliko Tarnovo is considered to be one of Bulgaria's most beautiful cities.[1]
Veliko Tarnovo is an important administrative, economic, educational and cultural centre of Northern Bulgaria.

Started off having lunch here at the restaurant Shtasliveca, a fancy place that seems to cling to the side of the cliffs overlooking the river. Looking out of the window you see many houses build the same, just clinging to the edge.

After lunch we took the trail to the castle fortress of Tcarevec, used to hold back the many invasions of Bulgaria from the south. It was an important place during the invasion of the Ottoman Empire in the 1800's.
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