Veliko Tarnovo Architecture

The Main Entrance to the fortress is on the western side of Tsarevets Hill, providing direct access to Veliko Tarnovo. It’s constructed on a narrow rocky massif and comprises several gates. The first gate underwent partial reconstruction between 1932 and 1934, but without the old battle tower that used to stand above the gate.

The Bulgarian Patriarchate architectural complex is at the highest point of Tsarevets Hill and covers an area of approximately 3,000 square meters.

The complex is known to have been an autonomous fortress, complete with walls, gates, and towers. The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God is at the center of the complex.

The church was rebuilt in 1981, and the frescoes were completed in 1985.

The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of the Lord is a former Eastern Orthodox cathedral. It served as the seat of the Bulgarian patriarch from the time of its construction in the 11th-12th century until its destruction in 1393.

The cathedral was built on top of a late Roman church and follows a cross-domed plan with a bell tower and a triple apse. The cathedral is richly decorated both on the exterior and interior. However, its internal walls now feature modern frescoes that prevent it from being reconsecrated.

It was reconstructed in the 1970s and 1980s. Although it is not used as a Christian place of worship anymore, it has been open for visitors since 1985.

The palace is situated in the central and plain part of a hill, and it was a closed complex surrounded by a fortified wall, two towers, and two entrances – one main entrance from the north and another from the south. It consisted of a throne room, a palace church, and a royal residential area, covering an area of 4,872 square meters (52,440 sq ft).

During the Middle Ages, numerous churches, monasteries, residential buildings, and craftsman’s workshops were located on the slopes of the Tsarevets hill. Archaeologists have identified 400 residential buildings organized into quarters, 22 churches, and four monasteries.

The Baldwin Tower is on the southeastern side of Tsarevets Hill. The tower, which resembles a medieval tower, was built in 1930. From the top of the tower, visitors can enjoy an incredible view of one of the defensive walls of the fortress and the Yantra River, which runs alongside it.

The French Chissar Gate (Frankhisar Gate) is one of the three entrances of the fortress. It is adjacent to the Baldwin Tower on the southeastern side of Tsarevets Hill.

The main entrance to the fortress is from the north. An impressive building with an area of ​​660 square meters was discovered immediately next to the military defense ensemble, which was supposed to have been built by the brothers Peter and Asen before the uprising of 1185.

The Southeastern Gate of Trapezitsa Fortress connected the fortress with the residential area along the river, the so-called “New Town.” The square gate tower had three floors. The tower was positioned by offsetting the Southern and Southeastern walls of the massive double-winged doors, of which only the foundation stones where the wings of the door were mounted have survived. The tower has been restored recently and is open for visitors.

Church No. 5, the only one with mosaic decoration, dates back to the time of Asenevtsi.

Church No. 8 aka St. Ivan Rilksi Church aka St. John of Rila Church (St. Ivan Rilksi Church) is the largest church in the complex.

The church was built in 1195 by Tsar Assen I to house the relics of Saint Ivan (John) of Rila that were brought from Sredets (Sofia) to Veliko Tarnovo. The church was constructed in four or five stages. In the mid-13th century, it became part of a monastery complex. The refectory and the abbot’s residence were added to the building at the time.

The room south of Church No. 8 is believed to be a reliquary where the saint’s relics were kept until 1469 when they were transferred to the Rila Monastery. Church No. 8 is part of a monastery complex, and during the excavation of the abbot’s room, the remains of 43 people were found haphazardly dumped there.

The Church No. 16, which dates back to the late 10th and early 11th centuries, is the oldest temple in Trapezica.

The church was built in the late 12th to early 13th century. It existed until the 17th century. There were murals inside and on the south facade.

Churches numbered 2, 7, and 14 are referred to as “tomb churches” because of their burial sites. In Church number 2, an image of the Archangel Michael was discovered on a stone slab. It is believed that this church is the church of the Holy Apostles.

Churches numbered 6, 11, 13, and 14 were called “royal churches” because of the royal characters in the fresco decoration.

The Architectural Museum Reserve is an interactive exhibition that showcases the grandeur of the capital city of Tarnovgrad and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The artifacts on display, which have been unearthed through archaeological research in recent decades, provide visitors with a glimpse into the lives and daily routines of both the aristocracy and the common people who lived in one of the city’s districts.

The Church of Ss. Peter and Paul was built most probably in the early 13th century. Towards the 16th to 18th century. It was extended on the South and West with an outdoor narthex. When Tarnovo was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, the Patriarchate and its library were relocated into this church. The last Tarnovian Patriarch, Eutimius, served here for two years.

Three artistic layers of the 14th, 16th, and 17th centuries can be traced in the mural paintings.

Saint Demetrius Church is located at the eastern foot of the Trapezitsa Fortress. It is connected to the Uprising of Asen and Peter against the Byzantine (Eastern Roman Empire) rule in 1185, which led to the restoration of the Bulgarian Kingdom. The original temple had only partially survived after several earthquakes and was recently restored.

Sveti Dimitar (dedicated to Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki) is a single-nave, crossed-dome church with an intricate decorative ceramic exterior. Only two layers of murals are partially preserved on the altar wall—the earlier one dates to the period when Tarnovgrad was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The second layer dates back to the XVI-XVII century. Archaeological excavations in the surrounding area have revealed parts of a monastery, another Christian church, and a necropolis.

In this church in 1185 the boylars Petar and Assen announced the rebellion against Byzantine oppression and proclaimed Tarnovo capital. The successful outcome of the revolt marked the beginning of the Second Bulgarian Tsardom. The tsars Petar, Ivan-Assen I, and Kaloyan (1185 – 1207) were most probably inaugurated here. The church was restored in 1985.

Saint George Church is located at the Eastern foot of Trapezitsa Fortress. It is a solid-stone single-nave church with a single vaulted apse to the East and a narthex at its Western side. The murals in the narthex and the nave follow the traditions of Post-Byzantine art.

The church was built in 1616 by the founder Paraskev and his wife Irina over the foundations of a Medieval church. The construction started on 15 March and was completed on 20 May.

An inscription in Greek survived at the entrance of the church and it read: “This godly pure church in the name of the hold martyr St. George the Victorious was built and painted with the joint efforts, hard work and donations by the noble Mr. Paraskev and Irina.

The restoration and conservation of the church were designed by architect Boyan Kuzupov, and were carried out between 1968 and 1971 by a team of restorers led by Iliya Iliev.

The history of the Holy Forty Martyrs Church is closely related to the history of Turnovgrad. During the reign of Khan Omurtag (814 to 831), a Bulgarian garrison was stationed here to defend the newly built fortress, which was protected by a massive wall with twelve towers.

In 864, with the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of Bulgaria, the governor of the fortress probably built a church, which predates the Holy Forty Martyrs. At the end of the 12th century, a monastery complex was built around the church. It was named the Great Lavra (Royal Monastery) and became the most important medieval monastery in the Turnovgrad area.

In 1230, the church was reconstructed and renovated by Tsar Ivan Assen II, who named it after the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste to commemorate the great victory over the army of Epirus ruler Theodore Komnenos on the 9th of March 1230 near the village of Klokotnitsa (the feast day of the 40 Martyrs). Tsar Ivan Asen II ordered an account of the victory to be inscribed on a marble column and placed in the church, along with two other columns with inscriptions by Khan Krum (801 to 814) and Khan Omurtag (814 to 831).

After the reconstruction in 1230, the church became a three-nave basilica with a narthex, three apses, and a crypt on the western side. The church was 24 meters long and 7-30 meters wide. The altar was made of marble, and the walls were painted with murals.

Since the beginning of the 13th century, the church and the surrounding area have been used as burial grounds for members of the Asen royal dynasty. Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan, who perished during the siege of Thessaloniki, was also buried here in 1207.

The city’s fall during the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria led to a decline of the monastery. The local Christians used the church until the 16th century when it was turned into a mosque. The temple was restored as a Christian church after the liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878. Here, in 1879, the members of the Constituent Assembly took their oath as deputies. On the 22nd of September 1908, the Independence of Bulgaria was proclaimed here (until then, Bulgaria was still a vassal principality to the Ottoman Empire), and Prince Ferdinand was declared Tsar of Bulgaria.

Holy Forty Martyrs continued functioning as a church until 1964, when it was declared a historical monument of national importance. It was reconstructed in 2004 (architectural design by Theophil Theophilov) and consecrated on the 14th of September 2006 by Veliko Tarnovo Archbishop Grigory.

The Church of Saints Constantine and Helena is the last church built by Kolyu Ficheto.

The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos Cathedral, aka Nativity of Mary Cathedral, aka The Cathedral Church Nativity of the Mother of God, ake Cathedral Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno, aka Rozhdestvo Church

The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos is one of the city’s oldest and most exquisite churches. It was constructed by Kolyu Ficheto between 1842 and 1848, replacing an older church made of chiseled sandstone.

It is situated on a small square in the so-called “Bolyarska mahala” and was built on the site of an old church with the same name. Notably, Metropolitans Clement, Sophronius, and Antim are interred in the church’s porch.

The church boasts unique architectural elements such as a recurved cornice made of red bricks, four columns, and elliptical windows. It is a three-nave structure with two rows of capitals inside, making it a truly unique site. The bell tower, built by Kolyu Ficheto, is on the western wall.

Unfortunately, the church was destroyed in the 1913 earthquake but was later restored by Master Grozyu in 1934 using old design sketches and a plaster model. The woodwork inside the church, including the oak royal doors, was crafted by Petar Kushlev from the Debar School.

This temple was constructed with the help of a government decree and the kindness of Bishop Hilarion the Cretan. Kolyo Ficheto, who was a young master at that time, also participated in its construction. A Greek and Bulgarian text above the south church door explains the circumstances under which the church of “St. Nicholas” was built. It mentions that Ilarion Tarnovski issued the permit. The text also seeks blessings from Saint Nicholas for all people and states that the church was built in 1836. The epigraphic monument was most likely erected in 1849 after the great earthquake.

The Samovodska Charshiya is a historical complex with a market and market streets. These cobbled streets were constructed in the mid-19th century and are lined with historic buildings. At the time, they served as the town’s economic center, home to numerous tradesmen and artisan shops. Many of these shops still exist today, including a weaving workshop, sweet shop, icon painting atelier, pottery, weapon and wood carving workshops, and others. The surrounding buildings now host souvenir or antique shops, art galleries, and traditionally designed restaurants, all maintaining the historical atmosphere of the area.

Gurko Street is the oldest street in Veliko Tarnovo and also one of the most picturesque streets with amazing views. Its traditional Revival Period houses are clustered tightly together, as if cascaded, overlooking the Yantra River.

The Asenov Quarter is located along the banks of the Yantra River, between the fortress of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa. The earliest traces of inhabitation in the area (two sanctuaries and some residential buildings) date back to the Iron Age (XI – I century BC). In VI century AD, a fortification of 25,000 square meters was built at the Western foot of the Tsarevets Hill to provide a water supply for the early Byzantine town of Zikideva, built on top of Tsarevets.

In medieval documents, the area was called “The New Town.” After the Ottomans conquered Tarnovgrad, the Asenov Quarter remained the largest Bulgarian neighborhood of the city, consisting of preserved medieval churches, noblemen’s houses, and the seat of the Tarnovo Orthodox Bishop.

The Sarafkina House Museum is one of the most majestic Renaissance houses in Veliko Tarnovo. Built-in 1861 for a banker (saraf), it is unique because of its location and architectural design: from the street, the house rises two floors, but viewed from the riverside, it has five floors. Inside is an exhibition of the urban lifestyle of Turnovo and the region during the 19th century.

The Mother Bulgaria War Monument stands in the central square of Veliko Tarnovo as a symbol of national pride and the spirit of the country. It was created by the sculptor Svetoslav Yotsov in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in battles throughout the country’s tumultuous history.

The Asenevtsi monument is a tribute to Asen, Petar, Kaloyan, and Ivan Asen II, the four brothers who ruled the medieval Bulgarian state during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom from 1187 to 1280. It was constructed in 1985 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Asen and Petar uprising, which ultimately led to Bulgaria’s liberation from the Byzantine Empire. The sword, placed in the middle of the monument, represents the power and prosperity of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

The Bishop’s Bridge connects the two fortresses of Tsarvets and Trapezitsa. It is in the Asenov Quarter, close to Tsar Shishman’s Bath, the Church of the Assumption, the Holy Forty Martyrs, and St. George churches. The bridge provided the only connection between the city and the village of Arbanasi. The Bishops of Tarnovo financed its construction during the National Revival period.

The bridge has solid stone foundations to protect it against the turbulent streams of the Yantra River. The current wooden flooring we walk today was imported from Romania and consecrated on the Feast of Saint Demetrius in 2012. Nowadays the bridge is the traditional site of the annual Epiphany cross dive, an Orthodox ritual in which men compete to retrieve a wooden cross thrown into the ice-cold water by a priest.

The Hadji Nikoli Inn of Veliko Tarnovo is a unique masterpiece from the Bulgarian Renaissance and an important part of the country’s cultural and historical heritage. It was constructed in 1858 for Hadji Nikoli, a renowned tradesman from Turnovo who played a significant role in the fight for an independent Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The building’s architect and builder was the talented local builder master, Kolyo Ficheto, who designed a magnificent monumental structure. Among the 70 inns built in the city, the Hadji Nikoli Inn is the only one that has survived.

The Inn has recently undergone restoration and renovation, and now offers a range of facilities to visitors. These include a restaurant, café, wine bar with an attached wine shop, museum, and art gallery.

Shishmanova Banya is in the Asenova Mahala neighborhood, between the churches of Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Peter and St. Paul, to the north of the east entrance to the Bishop Bridge. It is one of the few preserved edifices of this kind in Bulgaria. It was named Shishmanovo because it is believed to have been erected during the reign of the last Bulgarian King before Veliko Tarnovo fell under the Turkish yoke.

The first restoration measures included reinforcement of bath walls on the west side.

Want to learn about the history of Veliko Tarnovo with a guide? Book a highly-rated city tour while visiting Veliko Tarnovo!

If you’re planning a trip to Veliko Tarnovo, there are many great places to stay. However, we strongly recommend staying near the castle icon on the map below for the best experience. This is in the Old Town where you can enjoy the unique architecture, close to the restaurants with amazing views over the river, and not far from all the best wine bars. And, it’s a short and easy walk to the fortress.

The below interactive map provides hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!

Veliko Tarnovo is famous for being the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and picturesque location on the Yantra River. Veliko Tarnovo is especially renowned for its medieval fortress, Tsarevets, which offers panoramic views of the city and is a popular tourist attraction.

The city is also known for its vibrant arts scene, with numerous galleries and cultural events throughout the year. Additionally, Veliko Tarnovo is famous for its traditional crafts, such as woodcarving and pottery, which can be found in local shops and markets.

The Tarnovo Artistic School was a prominent architectural style that emerged during the Second Bulgarian Empire, specifically in Veliko Tarnovo. This architectural style is characterized by its unique combination of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Bulgarian architectural elements. The most significant example of this style is the Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, which served as the political and cultural center of the empire.

The architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School features massive stone walls, intricate decorative details, and a strategic use of natural landscapes. The buildings were often constructed on elevated terrains to enhance their defensive capabilities and provide panoramic views. Overall, the Tarnovo Artistic School represents an important period in Bulgarian history and showcases a distinctive architectural style that blended multiple influences into a cohesive and visually striking form.

Bulgaria has a rich architectural history with influences from various periods and styles. One prominent style of architecture in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Revival architecture, also known as National Revival architecture. This style emerged during the 18th and 19th centuries when Bulgaria was under Ottoman rule. Bulgarian Revival architecture is characterized by its unique combination of traditional Bulgarian elements with Ottoman and European influences.

Another notable architectural style in Bulgaria is the Neo-Baroque style, which became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This style is characterized by its grandeur, elaborate ornamentation, and symmetrical designs. Many government buildings, churches, and mansions in Sofia and other cities showcase this architectural style.

Additionally, Bulgaria has examples of Byzantine architecture, Ottoman architecture, Socialist Classicism (during the communist era), and contemporary architectural styles in modern buildings across the country.

The architecture of the first Bulgarian empire, also known as the Old Bulgarian State, was heavily influenced by Byzantine and Slavic architectural traditions. Some notable examples of architecture from this period include:

1. Preslav: The capital of the first Bulgarian empire, Preslav was known for its impressive buildings and palaces. The most famous structure is the Palace of Pliska, which features intricate mosaics and ornate decorations.

2. Veliki Preslav: Another important city in the first Bulgarian empire, Veliki Preslav was known for its religious buildings, including the Round Church of St. George and the Golden Church.

3. Ivanovo Rock Monastery: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located near Ruse and features a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, and monastic cells dating back to the 12th to 14th centuries.

These are just a few examples of the architecture from the first Bulgarian empire. The structures from this period often featured intricate decorations, religious symbolism, and a blend of Byzantine and Slavic influences.