First Bulgarian Kingdom – Pliska and Veliki Preslav

For two centuries, from the establishment of the Bulgarian state in 681 and up to 893, Pliska was the main political, military, cultural and economics center. In addition to this, it is among the most imposing monuments of medieval Europe’s urban development.

Situated in the middle of a wide hilly area, the first Bulgarian capital was protected by strongly fortified walls. Khan Krum’s palace is among the most remarkable monuments here. The tourists might find the secret entrances interesting; they enabled the inhabitants to leave the city without being seen. The palace had a large water reservoir and baths that were advanced for their time.

The large-scale construction activities carried out during the second phase of Pliska’s development are related with the name of the Bulgarian Khan Omurtag. The monuments from his reign include the so-called „Little Palace” with residences for members of the Khan’s family, the new baths with sophisticated heating installations, two pagan temples and the exceptionally decorated Throne Room. Pliska is the historical city that witnessed the conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity. The city has preserved early Christian religious buildings of imposing size, the most striking being the Big Basilica. With its 2920 m2, it was the biggest Christian church on the Balkan Peninsula. The huge three-aisled church, 100 m long and 30 m wide, was surrounded by a large monastery with a complex architecture.

Veliki Preslav is the second Bulgarian capital (893-971) that is worth visiting. King Simeon I moved the capital from Pliska to Veliki Preslav and transformed the latter into one of the most majestic cities in South-Eastern Europe (the „Golden Age” of Bulgarian history). The inner city includes the king’s residence structure with its monumental stone palaces, such as the Big Palace and the Throne Room with its columns, as well as the Round Church (10th century), richly decorated with mosaics, marble and ceramic icons.

The archeological findings include the impressive ceramic icon of St. Theodore Stratelates, the Preslav Golden Treasure, the ceramic iconostasis from the Palace Monastery and a unique collection of lead seals.

The medieval capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria, is astonishing with its unique beauty. The city is located in Central Bulgaria, at the foot of Stara Planina. The old part of the city is situated on the historical hills Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora. The investigation, preservation and restoration, and presentation activities carried out, as well as the large-scale construction and development works, have transformed this incredible city into a fairy tale, a desired place for a vacation and for reconnecting with antiquity and modernity.

Unique cultural monuments related to the glorious history of the Bulgarian people were created and preserved here throughout the centuries-long existence of the city. The preserved remains of fortresses, palaces and churches are silent witnesses of the blossoming Bulgarian culture in the 12th-14th century.

The proximity of the ancient city Nikopolis ad Istrum, the unique architectural and historical village of Arbanasi and the numerous monasteries create favorable conditions to satisfy the scientific and cultural interests of people of all ages. Two glorious Bulgarian ages meet here, the Middle Ages, when Veliko Tarnovo was the Bulgarian capital (12th-14th century), and the Revival, when the city became a center of everything new and progressive. First among the most famous tourist attractions is the Tsarevets hill. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, the hill was the residence of the king’s court, the boyars and the patriarch. It is surrounded by a fortified wall built upon natural vertical cliffs. Here you can find the Balduin tower, parts of the palace and the Ascension of Christ Patriarch Church. Other sanctuaries in the city include the St. Forty Martyrs, St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki, and St. Peter and Paul churches, as well as the Birth of the Holy Virgin Cathedral. The city is also impressive with its original and unique architecture of the Revival period.

A unique attraction is presented by the Sound and Light audio-visual show. Dramatic music, colored lights, lasers and church bells tell the glorious and tragic story of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1393). The show is a unique experience and adds up to the magic of Veliko Tarnovo. Hundreds of colored lights and three laser beams present moments of the battles against the Ottoman hordes, the years of the Turkish yoke, the revolutionary movement and the Liberation. The show can be best seen from the Tsar Ivan Asen II square in front of Tsarevets.

Sofia – ancient and forever young

Sofia is not only the capital, but also the heart of Bulgaria. The city is a cultural, educational, administrative and industrial center. Its motto rightly states: „Grows up, but never gets old”. The city is surrounded by enchanting mountains – Stara Planina to the North, Vitosha to the South, Lozenska to the Southeast and Lyulin to the Southwest. Sofia has a 7000-year long history. The ancient Thracian city of Serdika is established on the site of a Neolithic village in the 8th century BC. The reason for populating these lands are the hot mineral springs that even today are still abundant in the capital’s central part. Under the Roman Empire, the city was the center of the Roman province of Lower Dacia. Towers, fortified walls, administrative and religious buildings were erected. Emperor Constantine the Great called the city „My Rome”. Khan Krum added Sofia to his kingdom’s territory in 809. At this time the city had the Slavic name of Sredets, which means „middle part, center”. Later, in the Middle Ages, it was named „Sofia” after the St. Sofia Temple that exists to this day in the most central part of the city. A number of new churches were built, the Boyana Church being among the most famous and impressive, as well as beautiful administrative buildings. The documents of the Ottoman conquerors describe the city as fascinating. Sofia turned out to be an important crossroad on the Balkan Peninsula and gained the status of a crafts and trade center.

Today, Sofia is abundant with business and trade centers, dynamic night life and cultural landmarks. A lot of spare time is needed to visit these landmarks and it certainly cannot be done in one go. There are numerous museums, including the Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of History, the Earth and Man Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, and many others, as well as galleries and theatres.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Temple Monument is among the symbols of the city. It is a spectacular building; its belfry is 50.52 m high and in clear weather you can see the gold-plated domes kilometers before you enter the city. Right next to the temple is the oldest St. Sofia Church that the capital was named after. The square around the temple is also interesting, hosting the Unknown Soldier Monument with its eternal fire, and the open market of antiques. Nearby are the Russian St. Nikolay Church, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Parliament. It is also interesting to visit the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library, as well as the St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University, the first Bulgarian institution of higher education. A Roman rotunda transformed into the St. George Church is situated in the inner yard of the Presidency.

A favorite place of local citizens and a key meeting point is the National Palace of Culture (NPC). The building has 16 halls, the biggest containing 5000 seats. It is a multifunctional compound, a contemporary castle synthesizing modern architecture and plastic arts. The magnificent spaces are brought to life by more than 100 works of monumental painting, sculpture, woodcarving, tapestry and repoussage. NPC is a focal point of the capital’s cultural life, as well as the site of prestigious congress and conference activities, business and political events.

Everyone can find something of interest here. In NPC, you can meet great entertainers, as well as prominent congressmen, politicians and businessmen. The NPC halls keep the memory of the performances of world-famous personalities, such as Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Montserrat Caballe, Nigel Kennedy and Emir Kusturica.