Veliko Tarnovo is situated in the central parts of North Bulgaria. It has population of around 72 000 people. It is called “The old capital of Bulgaria”, because this is the third town with such functions. From 1187 to 1393, Bulgaria, that has been played the leading role on the world politic and economic scene, has been managed from here. Through the town, meandering one of the biggest and high-water rivers in Bulgaria – Yantra.
Today Veliko Tarnovo is the 15-th biggest town in the country, but undoubtedly is one of the richest, most beautiful and visited city in Bulgaria.
The biggest part of the buildings, are built in traditional, medieval Bulgarian style and this create incredible atmosphere that is very similar to this in Italy.
Here you can find a lot of narrow and winding streets, creeping on the hills of Tarnovo. The biggest part of the “Old capital” is unchanged from the medieval ages until today.
Many old buildings have been converted into hotels, restaurants and museums that welcome visitors all year around, mostly from developed countries of the European Union.
The streets are clean and their direction is unpredictable. You can walk along some street, but it suddenly can stop under the shadow of some yard.
In other places the road suddenly turns into a staircase. Although the streets are narrow, they are well planted and this makes them very pleasant for long strolls during the hot summer months.
Hear the summer heats are bearable, because the structures were built very close to each other and the sun doesn’t heat up the streets very strong.
The old part of Veliko Tarnovo with its palaces, fortifications and churches, occupies three hills – Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora. Between the historical hills, you can see the river Yantra.
Approximately 3 – 4km. in south from Tarnovo is situated the mountain Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), which make the local nature to be splendid.
You can find great diversity of animal and plant species. Tarnovo is surrounded by broad leaf deciduous and coniferous forests.
The “Old capital” is very important educational center. The local high schools and institutions of higher education are among the best in Bulgaria. A lot of young people come here to receive a high quality education.
The universities of the city provide to the young people with everything they need to be better competition on the Bulgarian and European labour market.
The atmosphere in Tarnovo is very conducive. The historical and traditional situation, stimulate the young people, which need to receive higher education and also wish to enrich their culture.
This is one of those amazing recesses in Europe, which can make the people to appreciate the culture and the differences of the traditions.
The climate of Veliko Tarnovo is temperate continental. The summer is very hot and the winter cold. The snowfall is something ordinarily.
The daily temperatures vary around 1 – 2 °C in January and 28 – 30 °C in July and August. During the spring and autumn, the temperatures vary between 10 and 20 °C.
The precipitations fall in all four seasons, but mainly in the spring and autumn. In January, February, March, November and December, the night temperatures are below the zero. From April to October the daily temperatures are more than 15 °C.
Here you can find great opportunities for entertainment. Except its incredible architecture, Veliko Tarnovo can offer you great diversity of museums.
The restaurants are countless – you can choose among hundreds, most of which will attract you by their excellent Bulgarian meals and panoramic views.
One of the biggest attractions in this area is the village of Arbanasi, that is situated in not more than 4 km. north-east of the town.
The village attracts great number of visitors because of its medieval atmosphere and traditional Bulgarian houses. St. Nikolay – wonder worker (Sveti Nikolay Chudotvorets) and The Assumption (Sveto Uspenie Bogorodichno) are two monasteries of Arbanasi, which have to be seen from every visitor of the Veliko Tarnovo – “The Old capital”.