The
town was founded in prehistoric times. In the 6th and 7th
centuries the Slavs and other tribes destroyed the castle,
which had been built up by the Romans and the Byzantines.
Between
1187 and 1393 it was the capital of the Second Bulgarian
State - a typical feudal town that had quite an impact throughout
the country in terms of economic and cultural development.
It was capital again, for a brief period of time, after
the Liberation (1878).
The
Tsarevets Hill is a virtually impregnable castle, where
the Royal Palace, the Patriarchal Church and an abundance
of small churches wrer erected through the past centuries.
The walls were 12 meters tall.
Nowadays, the construction elements that form the castle's
original outline has been restored.. The ruins of the churches,
the workshops and the narrow streets will give you an idea
about what was Tsarevets like so many centuries ago.
Bozhentsi
It
is a picturesque small village with only about 70 residents
situated near Gabrovo. It is a veritable museum - the houses
have been preserved in the same condition they were 150-200
years ago during the period of the Bulgarian Renaissance.
Use
the opportunity to take a stroll down the cobbled street
to the two houses, converted to museums, with authentic
interiors designed in the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively,
for which, it seems, the clock had stopped ticking. Besides,
there'is a church and an old wax-purification workshop.
Of course, in the traditional taverns you can enjoy Bulgarian
typical meals.
There
are numerous places of interest in the vicinity of Bozhentsi
(monasteries, a cave, an ethographic park, etc).
Arbanassi
Arbanassi
is a small village with no more than 500 residents, 4 km
northeast of Veliko Turnovo. It is laced with a mixture
of history, architecture and art. During the Ottoman rule
it was exempt from the ruining taxes. This allowed its residents
to dedicate themselves to craftsmanship and trade and, so,
to live comfortably. The typical houses with massive wooden
gates are still very well preserved together with their
tall fences and spacious yards, full of greenness.
The
outer appearance of these houses makes them look like castles
with secret rooms where you could get in only through hidden
entrances.
However,
the interior designs is amazingly cosy - carved ceilings,
built-in wardrobes, fireplaces, etc. of all the 80 preserved
houses, 36 are national monuments of culture. There are
five churches with beautiful wall paintings dating from
past centuries, which are also national monuments.
