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Tsarevets ( Bulgarian: Царевец, Carevec) is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. Tsarevets is 206 metres (676 ft) above sea level. It served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's primary fortress and strongest bulwark between 1185 and 1393, housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces, and it is also a popular tourist attraction.

The earliest evidence of human presence on the hill dates from the 2nd millennium BC. It was settled in the 4th century and a Byzantine city, tentatively identified with Zikideva, was constructed near the end of the 5th century, on the grounds of which the construction of the Bulgarian stronghold was begun in the 12th century. After the Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion and the establishment of the Second Bulgarian Empire with its capital in Veliko Tarnovo, the fortress became the most important one in Bulgaria, often compared with Rome and Constantinople in magnificence. In 1393, the stronghold was besieged by Ottoman forces for three months before finally being conquered and burnt down on 17 July, which marked the fall of the Bulgarian Empire.

It has three entrances. The main entrance is located in the easternmost side of the hill. The castle complex is located in the centre, surrounded by an internal stone wall, two battle towers and two entrances - north and south. It consists of a throne hall, castle church and the king's chamber. The restoration of the fortress Tsarevets began in 1930 and was completed in 1981 in honour of the 1300 anniversary from the establishment of the Bulgarian state. Kings Petar, Asen, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen the second lived there.

The whole stronghold is girdled by thick walls reaching up to 3.6 metres (12 ft) and was served by three gates. The main gate was at the hill's westernmost part, on a narrow rock massif, and featured a draw-bridge. The second gate is 180 metres (590 ft) away from the first one and the third one, which existed until 1889, is 450 metres (1,480 ft) further.

The palace is on the hill's central and plain part, which was a closed complex encircled by a fortified wall, two towers and two entrances, a main one from the north and one from the south. It featured a throne room, a palace church and a royal residential part and encompassed 4,872 square metres (52,440 sq ft).

On the top of the hill is the patriarchate, a complex with an area of about 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft). The Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord, built on the remains of a late Roman basilica, was reconstructed in 1981 and painted in 1985. The frescoes inside, painted in a striking modernist style rather than in the style of traditional Orthodox frescoes, depict conventional Christian subjects as well as glorious and tragic moments of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The church has not been reconsecrated.

Baldwin's Tower (Балдуинова кула), a modern reconstruction of a medieval tower modeled after the tower in Cherven and built in 1930, is in the southeastern part of the fortress. It is at the place of the original medieval tower where Latin Emperor Baldwin I of Constantinople found his death as a prisoner of Kaloyan of Bulgaria.

During the Middle Ages, residential buildings, craftsman's workshops and numerous churches and monasteries were situated on the slopes of the Tsarevets hill. Archaeologists have discovered 400 residential buildings, differentiated in quarters, over 22 churches and 4 monasteries.

Tsarevets hill is also the location of Execution Rock, an outcropping over the Yantra River from which traitors were pushed to their deaths and their bodies fell into the river. There Patriarch Joachim was executed by the Tsar Theodore Svetoslav in the year 1300.

The Sound and Light (Звук и светлина, Zvuk i svetlina) audiovisual show is an attraction carried out in the evening that uses three lasers, variegated lights, dramatic music and church bells to tell the story of the fall of Tarnovo to the Ottomans, as well as other key moments of the history of Bulgaria. The large-scale show has been organized at Tsarevets since 1985, when the 800-year anniversary of the Uprising of Asen and Peter was celebrated. It was designed and planned by a Bulgarian- Czechoslovak team led by Valo Radev and Jaromir Hnik.

Changing of the Guard. A 15-minute ceremonial procession begun 15 April 2011 at 19:30, to be performed each weekend throughout the summer (tourist season).

Tsarevets Buttress on Trinity Peninsula, Antarctica is named after the site.

Winter view of Tsarevets (31.12.2014)

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Tsarevets ( Bulgarian: Царевец, Carevec) is a medieval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. Tsarevets is 206 metres (676 ft) above sea level. It served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's primary fortress and strongest bulwark between 1185 and 1393, housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces, and it is also a popular tourist attraction.

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St Alexander Nevski Square, Sofia, Bulgaria

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St Alexander Nevski Square, Sofia, Bulgaria

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St Alexander Nevski Square, Sofia, Bulgaria

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The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral ( Bulgarian: Храм-паметник "Свети Александър Невски", Hram-pametnik "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski") is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is believed to be one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world. It is one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 5,000 people inside. It is believed to be among the 10 largest Eastern Orthodox church buildings. It is the third largest Orthodox Cathedral located in Southeast Europe, being surpassed only by two new and not yet fully completed Cathedrals - the Romanian People's Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, and the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade. It is believed that until year 2000 it was the largest finished Orthodox Cathedral.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a cross-domed basilica featuring an emphasized central dome. The cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m high (148 ft) (46.3 m (152 ft) with the cross), with the bell tower reaching 53 metres (174 ft). The roof span of the central nave is 28 metres (92 ft) The temple has 12 bells with total weight of 23 tons, the heaviest weighing 12 tons and the lightest 10 kilograms (22 lb). The interior is decorated with Italian marble in various colours, Brazilian onyx, alabaster, and other luxurious materials. The central dome has the Lord's Prayer inscribed around it, with thin gold letters.

The construction of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral started in 1882 (having been planned since 19 February 1879), when the foundation stone was laid, but most of it was built between 1904 and 1912. Saint Alexander Nevsky was a Russian prince. The cathedral was created in honour to the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from Ottoman rule.

The cathedral was designed by Alexander Pomerantsev, aided by Alexander Smirnov and Alexander Yakovlev, as the initial 1884-1885 project of Ivan Bogomolov was radically changed by Pomerantsev. The final design was finished in 1898, and the construction and decoration were done by a team of Bulgarian, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and other European artists, architects and workers, including the aforementioned architects, as well as Petko Momchilov, Yordan Milanov, Haralampi Tachev, Ivan Mrkvička, Vasily Bolotnov, Nikolay Bruni, Alexander Kiselyov, Anton Mitov and many others.

The marble parts and the lighting fixtures were created in Munich, the metal elements for the gates in Berlin, while the gates themselves were manufactured in Karl Bamberg's factory in Vienna, and the mosaics were shipped from Venice.

The name of the cathedral was briefly changed to the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral between 1916 and 1920 (since Bulgaria and Russia belonged to opposing alliances in World War I), but then the initial name was restored. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was consecrated on 12 September 1924 and in 1955 was declared a cultural monument.

To the left of the altar is a case displaying relics of Alexander Nevsky, given by the Russian Orthodox Church. Although the accompanying Bulgarian-language plaque refers simply to "relics" (мощи), the item on display appears to be a piece of a rib.

There is a museum of Bulgarian icons inside the cathedral crypt, part of the National Art Gallery. The church claims that the museum contains the largest collection of Orthodox icons in Europe.

The cathedral is adjacent to St. Sofia Church, the church for which the city of Sofia is named. Other notable landmarks in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral are the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the National Gallery of Foreign Art, the National Art Academy, the Bulgarian Parliament, a park honoring Ivan Vazov with his monument and gravestone, the Sofia Opera and Ballet, and a park where one can buy handmade textiles, icons, and antiques in a small flea market.

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The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral ( Bulgarian: Храм-паметник "Свети Александър Невски", Hram-pametnik "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski") is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is believed to be one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world.

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Ancient Town Of Plovdiv - Architectural Reserve, ulitsa "Saborna", Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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Ancient Town Of Plovdiv - Architectural Reserve, ulitsa "Saborna", Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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Ancient Town Of Plovdiv - Architectural Reserve, ulitsa "Saborna", Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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﻿Ancient Plovdiv Architectural Reserve is a well-preserved complex where on a relatively small area visitors can take walks through different historical ages, see ancient buildings adapted to the modern way of life and feel the spirit of the town from the Bulgarian Revival Period.
The Old Town, as the complex is known, lies on a natural elevation - the three hills (the closely situated Dzhambaz Hill, Nebet Hill, and Taksim Hill). Many peoples have inhabited this place through the centuries. And all of them have left traces of their cultures and also the different names they gave to the town. Plovdiv is one of the oldest towns in Europe - it dates back to 4000 years BC. During Antiquity, the Thracians came to the hill and set up a fortified settlement that was conquered by Philip of Macedonia in the 2nd century BC. He gave one of the many names of the town - Philipopolis and surrounded it with thick fortification walls. Later the Thracians regained control over the town, but after a series of battles, they lost it to the Romans in the 1st century. A fortress from Thracian times is preserved on the very summit of Nebet Hill.
During the reign of the Roman Empire Plovdiv (then called Trimontium) was an important district centre. The town flourished and there was a construction boom of buildings, equipment, and roads.
Many well-preserved remains have survived from the prospering town, such as paved streets, fortification walls, buildings, water-supply system, and sewerage. Trimontium expanded so much that it grew out of its walls and this called for the construction of new ones. Many parts of the town were located at the foot of the hill rather than on it.
Some of the more interesting sites from the Roman Period are the Roman Theatre, the Roman Stadium, the Ancient Forum, and Irene Residential House.
The Roman Theatre (the Amphitheatre) lies in a natural depression between Taksim and Dzhambaz Hills. It was constructed during the rule of Emperor Trajan (beginning of the 2nd century). It is very well-preserved. It used to have rich decoration and could seat up to seven thousand spectators. After it has been thoroughly restored, today performances can once again be staged at the ancient theatre.
The Roman Stadium is located beneath Dzhumayata Square where only part of it is visible. It was built in the 2nd century and was designed after the Stadium at Delphi - there are only 12 such stadiums in the world.
The Ancient Forum lies near Tsentralen Square, close to the Central Post Office. It was built in the 1st century during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. It is a complex comprising buildings, a library, a mint, an odeon, etc.
Irene Residential House can be seen in the Archaeological Underpass on Tsar Boris III Blvd. It has very rich mosaic decoration which includes a portrait of a woman signed with the name Irene and dates back to the 3rd - 4th centuries.
This was followed by the Byzantine period of the town - the end of the 4th century. Not long after that the Slavs also came to this place - they named the town Paldin.
When the First Bulgarian Empire was established (7th century) Paldin was left outside of its borders. Khan Krum (who reigned in the period 803 - 814) was the first to conquer the town in 812, and it became an official part of the state under Khan Malamir (who ruled in the period 831 - 836). The Byzantines managed to conquer it back, but with varying success. In the course of time, the control over the town switched many times, and there was even a brief period when it was governed by the knights of the Fourth Crusade. In 1344 the Bulgarians eventually gained control over the town.
The popular eastern fortress gate Hisar Kapia (Fortress Gate) is a remnant from the Middle Ages.
The Ottoman army conquered Plovdiv in 1364 and gave a new direction to the development of the town. The Byzantine architecture was succeeded by a completely new construction style with typical Oriental features. The new name of the town was Filibe. Dzhumaya Mosque (located in the centre of the town, next to the Ancient Stadium), Chifte Bath (built in 1582 and transformed into a centre for modern arts), and the 16th century Clock Tower on the summit of Sahat Hill are all surviving examples from this period.
During the Revival Period Plovdiv became an important economic centre. The town was inhabited by many wealthy and educated people who travelled around Europe. And when they got back from their journeys they did not just bring exotic goods, but new cultural trends as well. The affluent Plovdiv merchants demonstrated their prosperity by constructing beautiful, richly ornamented houses that became emblematic for the Old Town. Unlike the small, asymmetrical and practical adobe houses from the beginning of the Revival Period, the designs of the buildings that were constructed later were more imaginative and dashing and their focus was on splendour and details. The new revival houses were symmetrical (oval hall and four rooms in the corners) and their design was varied by adding bay-windows and gossip rooms on the upper floor. In architecture, they are referred to as Plovdiv Houses. Apart from its beautiful architectural style, the rich houses had additional annexes such as marble wells, storehouses for valuable goods, premises for the servants, and even Turkish baths with laundry rooms. Special attention was devoted to the beautifully-ornamented colour decoration of the facade. The decoration of the interior consisted of wall-paintings and wood-carved furniture, ceilings and staircase railings.
Some of the more interesting houses from the Bulgarian Revival Period are Mavridi House, Nedkovich House, Stepan Hindliyan House, Balabanov's House, Kyumyurdzhiev's House, etc.
Three of the exhibitions of the Regional History Museum are also displayed in interesting houses from the Revival Period.
Different buildings in the Old Town keep collections of the Town's Art Gallery. Temples and public buildings from the Revival Period that completed the spiritual and cultural lives of the intelligent Plovdiv people have also survived to this day.
Most of the revival-period houses are very well-preserved and restored at Ancient Plovdiv Architectural Reserve.
The Old Town is a reserve storing a valuable part of the town's history. But it is not a place that can remain unchanged. Just like in ancient times one culture used the foundations of others to achieve something better and newer, today the Old Town is not just a plain hill covered with ruins and houses. It is part of modern-day Plovdiv, it is adapted and adjusted to the needs and the ideas of the new generations. The Academy of Music and Dance Arts (in the building of the Yellow School) and the Faculty of Biology of Plovdiv University are located there. Many of the revival-period houses are still used as residential buildings even today. Others have been turned into museums and galleries. Performances and concerts take place at the Roman Theatre. The Old Town is a preferred place for strolls and the various cafes and nice restaurants, some of which with a rich history, make the visits even more enjoyable - especially in the hot summer evenings.

﻿Opening hours
Opening hours of the sites:
Balabanov's House
8.30 am - 5.00 pm
Hindliyan House
8.30 am - 5.00 pm
Nedkovich House
8.30 am - 5.00 pm
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev Gallery
8.30 am - 5.00 pm
Roman Theatre - Plovdiv
7.00 am - 5.30 pm
The sites are open every day
Admission:
Adults: BGN 5 (Roman Theatre - BGN 3)
Pupils, University Students and Senior citizens - BGN 1
Free admission day - Thursday for students
Sunday for the citizens of Plovdiv;
Lectures - BGN 15 per site
(regardless of the language it is given in)
Town Art Gallery:
Permanent Exhibition, Icon Gallery, Temporary Exhibitions:
9.30 am - 12.30 pm - 1.00 pm - 5.30 pm
Saturday and Sunday:
10.00 am - 12.30 pm - 1.00 pm - 5.30 pm
Tsanko Lavrenov and Mexican Art Exhibition and Encho Pironkov Exhibition:
Monday to Friday
9.30 am - 12.30 pm - 1.00 pm - 5.30 pm
Saturday
10.00 am - 5.30 pm
closed on Sundays
Admission:
Adults: BGN 2
Students - BGN 1 (for each exhibition).

Contacts
Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute
50 K. Stoilov Str. - Balabanov's House
Tel: +359 32 62 70 82
Town Art Gallery:
Icon Collection
22 Saborna Str., Plovdiv
Tel: +359 32 62 60 86
Permanent Exhibition
14 a Saborna Str., Plovdiv
Tel: +359 32 63 53 22
Tsanko Lavrenov Exhibition
11 Artin Gidikov Str., Plovdiv
Tel: +359 32 62 87 45
Encho Pironkov Exhibition
1 Vasil Kanchev Str., Plovdiv
Tel: +359 32 63 80 55
Ancient Plovdiv
Guides
Tel: +359 32 62 70 82
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev Galler
Tel: +359 32 63 53 08
Nedkovich House
Tel: +359 32 62 62 16
Hindliyan House
Tel: +359 32 62 89 98
e-mail:[email protected]
Websites:
www.oldplovdiv.com
www.galleryplovdiv.com

Personnel - at the entrance of the site - cashier;
Guides are available upon request in advance; Lectures are given in the following languages:
Bulgarian;
English;
German;
French;
Russian;
Czech.

The streets of the Old Town are paved with uneven cobblestones. It is recommended that visitors wear low-heeled comfortable shoes.

﻿MUNICIPAL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER 2 - PLOVDIV
Contacts
Tel: +359 32 620453
e-mail:[email protected]
e-mail:[email protected]

22 Saborna Str., city of Plovdiv
Services
The center provides Bulgarian and foreign tourists with information and advertising materials for the city of Plovdiv, up-to-date and detailed information about the basic and additional services, which the tourist sites in the city provide. An electronic system for tourist information is placed in front of the building of the center, which includes two types of info points - municipal and tourist.

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Old Town Architectural-Historical Reserve - Plovdiv

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﻿Ancient Plovdiv Architectural Reserve is a well-preserved complex where on a relatively small area visitors can take walks through different historical ages, see ancient buildings adapted to the modern way of life and feel the spirit of the town from the Bulgarian Revival Period.

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Ancient Theater of Philippopolis, улица Цар Ивайло, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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Ancient Theater of Philippopolis, улица Цар Ивайло, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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Ancient Theater of Philippopolis, улица Цар Ивайло, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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Kapana district

What was until recently a crumbling, bland area close to the city center, is now renovated and full of life and art. You will find many art workshops, ateliers, art cafes and craft beer bars in Kapana where you can enjoy your time, both during the day and after sunset.

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The Ancient Theater is one of the greatest symbols of Plovdiv, located at one end of the Old Town. You'll be able to set foot on authentic rock stairs and seats used by local nobles centuries ago. The theater's stage is still in use today, and in summer you can come across a classical concert, an opera performance or a rock concert.

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Belogradchik Fortress, Пор. Чолаков, Bulgaria

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Belogradchik Fortress, Пор. Чолаков, Bulgaria

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Belogradchik Fortress, Пор. Чолаков, Bulgaria

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When was Belogradchik Fortress erected?

Historians believe it happened in the time of the Roman Empire. The Romans were clever enough to choose a site where there was almost no need to build. The natural rocky landscape meant that walls from only two sides had to be built - from the northwest and from the southeast. For the rest of the structure, rock verticals as high as 230 feet (70 meters) were used. At the initial state of its life, the Belogradchik Fortress served merely as a lookout point.

The Middle Ages and recent history of Belogradchik Fortress

At a certain point, during the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Sratsimir (14th century), the fortress had to acquire a tougher military function. At that time, the Ottoman Empire was gaining new territories in Europe, and thus it forced many rulers, including the Bulgarians, to strengthen their defense systems. In this period, the fortress was the second most important in the state of Ivan Sratsimir, only after his castle - the Vidin Fortress.

During the Ottoman rule of the region, the fortress was reconstructed and reinforced once again because of the rebellion activity that was taking place. As for recent history, the last time the fortress was used as a military site was during the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885.

The Belogradchik Fortress as a monument

The whole area of today's Belogradchik Fortress is more than 100,000 square feet (10,000 square meters). The walls are 6.5 feet (2 meters) thick at their base and 40 feet (12 meters) high. The astounding rock formations around the fortress are known as Belogradchik rocks and were formed more than 200 million years ago after once being part of a sea bottom.

The fortress is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, and the entrance fee is BGN 3 (less than US$2).

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A Brief History of Bulgaria's Belogradchik Fortress

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When was Belogradchik Fortress erected? Historians believe it happened in the time of the Roman Empire. The Romans were clever enough to choose a site where there was almost no need to build. The natural rocky landscape meant that walls from only two sides had to be built - from the northwest and from the southeast.