The town of Veliko Turnovo

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Veliko Turnovo, the former medieval capital of Bulgaria, is situated amphitheatrically on 4 hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora. Tsarevets was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in the 12th century. The fateful events from the 13 centuries old Bulgarian State are related with this town, such as the Second Bulgarian Kingdom's apogee in XII - XIII centuries AC and the adoption of the First Bulgarian Constitution in 1874. Ancient travelers have written about Turnovo as "the second after Constantinople" in its beauty and might.

During 1185, after a successful upheaval of Bulgaria to overthrow Byzantine domination, the leaders of the upheaval tried unsuccessfully to liberate the previous capital Preslav. They proclaimed Turnovo as the new capital city of the liberated state, selected because it has a very important strategic significance, being naturally fortified.

As you look through the photos in this gallery, it is easy to visualize how the river Yantra, as it runs through the city, forms a natural semi-island, which, after being fortified by earlier Bulgarian kings, was used as their power base.

This semi-island is called Tsarevets, meaning Tsar's place.

Today, the old town quarters are preserved with their dislocated on terraces Bulgarian Renaissance houses, with their fine interior, handicraft workshops and cafes. Many of today's visitors describe Veliko Turnovo as the most beautiful Bulgarian town. The modern town is an administrative, economical and cultural center. The hill looks fantastic in the night-time audio-visual performance of the project “Light and sound”.