North Central Bulgaria
Region Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo Municipality – one of the leading property destinations on Bulgarian property sales
In your search for prime locations to buy your dream property abroad Veliko Tarnovo Region should be on the top of your list. According to major part of our customers this is a place with no competitors among Bulgarian sites.
Why this place is number one in Bulgarian property sale, why it is your favorite Bulgarian region for buying property abroad?
The following information would help you to understand the advantages of the property market of Veliko Tarnovo Region.
Veliko Tarnovo city – the heart of North Central Bulgaria
The city of Veliko Tarnovo borders with the Belyakovsko Plateau in the North and Arbanashko Plateau in the East.
The beautiful landscape which is one of the attractions of the area is due to a various relief - from plain and hilly to mountain type relief.
The city is situated on the slopes of beautiful defiles. The river Yantra had formed 4 hills – Sveta Gora, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Momina Krepost. All of them are above sea level from 210 to 265 meters.
There are formed four big caves in the area called “Dervenya”.
The climate in Veliko Tarnovo municipality is moderate continental – summers are hot and winters are cold.
Translated the name of the city means “Great” Tarnovo. It is of no surprise thinking of the glorious history which was carved in every little stone in the town.
Veliko Tarnovo became the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, after the successful uprising against Byzantine domination in 1185.
During the 13th and 14th centuries it was a big political, economic, trade and cultural centre in Europe. Those were the times when the Bulgarian State reached the heights of its development. Bulgaria was one of the first powers on the Old Continent. Magnificent palaces and monasteries, churches, schools and bridges were built during that period.
Nowadays Veliko Tarnovo is cultural, historical and administrative center of Bulgaria. There are evidences for life in these lands from about 13th century BC when the first Thracians settled here.
Ancient history and culture are well preserved in the architecture, numerous monuments and museums. The old town of Veliko Tarnovo with its narrow streets where traditional arts and crafts flourished still keeps the medieval atmosphere and romance.
Cultural landmarks and sightseeing in Veliko Tarnovo
If you are first time in Veliko Tarnovo here are some very interesting places you should include in your visitors list:
The emblem of the glorious history of the city during The Middle Ages- the fortress “Tsarevets” which is protected on three sides by Yantra River. In the evenings don’t miss the incredible and unique audio-visual show performed on the fortress “Tsarevgrad Tarnov Sound And Light”.
“Trapezitsa” hill where archeologists discovered 17 church foundations. Тhe nobility used to lived there and built their own family churches.
The Cathedral church “The Birth of the Holy Virgin” – the biggest active church in the city.
The museum of the Bulgarian Revival and the Constituent Assembly, located at the old “Konak” (Turkish municipal building), build by the unsurpassed master Nikola Fichev.
The archeological museum which keeps numerous founds and remains of the ancient history of these lands.
“Samovodska Charshia”- the old trade street which sheltered skilful craftsmen through the Revival Period and even today many of the houses and the workshops are fully restored.
The “House with the monkey” and “Mother Bulgaria” monument- both on the main street, you can’t miss to see them.
“Gurko” street- a unique illustration of Bulgarian Revival architectural style where you can visit “Sarafkina house”, the church of “St. Constantine and Elena” and enjoy the gorgeous view of the Yantra River and the Asens’ Monument.
The church “St. Forty Martyrs”-built in 1230 on the order of Tzar Ivan Asen II, which preserved some of the Bulgarian Empire's most significant historical records, written columns from Bulgarian кhans including Omurtag's Column, Asen's Column and the Border Column from Rodosto and the time of Khan Krum.- The Stambolov’s Bridge which is the way to the Asens’ Monument and the City Art Gallery.
Cities and villages in Veliko Tarnovo municipality
Veliko Tarnovo municipality is the largest municipality in Veliko Tarnovo Region. It comprises of 36 villages, the town of Kilifarevo, the town of Debelets and the city of Veliko Tarnovo.
The city of Veliko Tarnovo is administrative center of the region. Some of the more popular towns and villages in the municipality are: village of Arbanasi (historical and architectural reserve), village of Voneshta Voda (mineral springs), village of Emen (the Emen canyon of Negovanka River; the Emen Cave and Momin Skok Waterfall), village of Kapinovo (Kapinovski monastery), village of Nikyup (the ancient town of Nikopolis ad Istrum – UNESCO World Heritage), town of Kilifarevo ( Kilifarevski monastery) and many other settlements unique in their own way.
Surrounding area
The region is popular with its beautiful monasteries from the Medieval Period.
The “Preobrazhenski” (Transfiguration) Monastery is situated at the distance of 3.5 miles north of Veliko Tarnovo. It was built in 14th century but repeatedly ruined by fire during the period of Ottoman Rule and finally rebuild in the beginning of 19th century. It is one of the most remarkable monuments of Bulgarian Revival Period architecture and iconography where masters from Tryavna have made their finest wood carved iconostasis and icons. A bell tower with a clock built in 1860 by master Kolyu Ficheto(Nikola Fitchev) rises in the yard of the monastery.
"The Wheel of Life" - mural painting in the Transfiguration Monastery
Оn the right bank of Yantra River opposite the “Preobrazhenski” Monastery is located one of the oldest monasteries around Veliko Tarnovo-“ Sveta Troitsa” (The Holy Trinity) Monastery. It originated about the year 1070 and initially it was a small cave formed in the rocky massif above the present-day monastery. The monastery is known in Bulgarian history for becoming the first school of Literature in Bulgaria.
"The Holy Trinity" Monastery
The Lyaskovets Monastery is situated at the distance of 3.5 miles northwest of Veliko Tarnovo and 2 miles southwest of the town of Lyaskovets on a high inaccessible rock on the Arbanassi Hill. The monastery is famous for providing shelter to the revolutionaries during the preparation of the April Uprising.
The Kilifarevo Monastery is at the distance of 10 miles south of Veliko Tarnovo. It is of great significance in the history of Bulgarian culture. Built during 1348 - 1350 by Theodosii Tarnovski with the help of Tsar Ivan Alexander the monastery and its famous school had 460 scholars in 1360.
In the north part of the Balkan Mountains, only 11 miles south of Veliko Tarnovo lays "St. Prophet Ilya" Monastery of Plakovo. Remains of the old monastery church built during the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen have been preserved up to the present. The monastery was an important spiritual and cultural center at the time of Ottoman yoke and played an important role in the liberation of Bulgaria.
Very interesting place to visit is the village of Voneshta Voda situated 18 miles away from Veliko Tarnovo. It is popular for its thermal springs; the mineral water is used for medical treatment by drinking and balneological baths. The village offers excellent conditions for medical tourism and balneotherapy.
Popular not only amongst Bulgarian tourists is the village of Arbanasi located only 2.5 miles away from the old medieval capital. It is a proof for architectural genius of Bulgarian masters dating back to 15th century. The village has preserved its revival outlook and atmosphere providing visitors with the incredible chance to learn about Bulgarian history surrounded with unique sensation.
Location and infrastructure
The national highway Hemus from Sofia to Varna passes through the city and thus making available easy access from Veliko Tarnovo to the capital Sofia and the sea capital Varna. The major roads connecting East Bulgaria to West Bulgaria and North Bulgaria to South Bulgaria intersects here.
The city of Veliko Tarnovo is located on almost equal distances from the largest Bulgaria cities – Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas. Visitors and guests of Veliko Tarnovo benefit from its convenient location - about three hours drive is the distance to the international airports of Sofia, Varna and Burgas.
Economy and development of Veliko Tarnovo municipality
Major deal of the industry is represented by electronics, engineering, food industry, wine industry, textile and tailoring, wood processing and polygraphy and printing industry.
Ecologically clean agricultural products – wheat, barely, sunflower and corn, are grown in the plain parts of the municipality.
There are no serious polluters of the environment and waters of the region.Veliko Tarnovo municipality has available rich combination of resources for tourist development:
Remarkable nature resources
Historical and cultural monuments and museums
Unique architectural objects
Great number of monasteries
Amazing relief
Mineral springs
Abundant hunting reserves
All these advantages are prerequisites for the development of a modern tourist industry – which offers cognitive, cultural, congressional, rural and eco tourism.
Places of entertainment
The city of Veliko Tarnovo offers variety of options to spend your free time. Here are some of the restaurants, cafes and night clubs most of them are open 7 days a week:
Restaurant “The Happy Man” (pronounced in Bulgarian as “Shtastliveca”)
Address: 79, “Stefan Stambolov “Str.
Restaurant “The Happy Man” 2(located in Hotel Concord)
Address: 14, “C. Cerkovski” Str.
Reservations on: 062 606 053
Restaurant “Studio” (Bulgarian, French and Italian cuisine)
Address: 4, “Todor Lefterov” Str.
Restaurant “Ethno”
Address: 29 b, “Bulgaria” Blvd.
Reservations on: (+ 359 62) 606 670; 0896 722 732
Restaurant “St. George”
Address: 14, “Georgi Mamarchev” Str.
Pizza and Grill “Ego”
Address: 17, “Nezavisimost” Str.
Pizza “Tempo”
Address: 3, “Slaveykov” Sqr.
Reservations on: (+ 359 62) 623 787
“City Pub” (food and drink)
Address: 15, “Hristo Botev” Str.
Reservations on: (+ 359 62) 637 824
“Dublin Irish Pub”
Address: 2, “Maika Bulgaria” Sqr.
Pizza “La Scala”
Address: 14, “Hristo Botev” Str.
Café “Stratilat”
Address: “Rakovski” Str.
Café “Geronimo”
Address: 1, “Vasil Levski” Str.
Disco “Bally”
Address: 2, “Hristo Botev” Str.
Club “Spider”
Address: “Hristo Botev” Str.