This is the historic province of the tsars. The massive **Tsarevets** fortress dominates the skyline with its thick stone walls and tall wooden gates. You can walk the same paths once used by the medieval Bulgarian kings. At night the entire hill often lights up with a colorful show of lasers and music. It tells the story of the old empire using the walls as a giant screen. It is the most famous landmark in the entire region. Drive a few minutes away to the quiet village of **Arbanasi**. The houses here look like small stone fortresses with very thick walls and heavy doors. You can visit the old churches to see thousands of tiny figures painted on every surface. The view from the village looks down over the winding Yantra River far below. It is a very peaceful spot to enjoy a traditional meal. Many travelers choose to stay here to avoid the crowds of the main city. Head south toward the mountains to find the blue water of the **Hotnitsa** waterfall. A short trail leads you to a bright pool at the base of the falling water. You can climb the wooden stairs to see the river from a higher point. The water stays cold and clear even during the peak of summer. This province perfectly blends royal history with the raw beauty of nature. It is a highlight of any trip through central Bulgaria.

Veliko Tarnovo (province) highlights

Part of these road trips

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Veliko Tarnovo (province)

This province was the **Third Rome**. As the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire from 1185 to 1393, **Tsarevets Hill** was a fortress city of 400 houses and 22 churches, where the patriarch and the tsar ruled over a kingdom stretching to three seas. The fall of the city in 1393 was a tectonic shift in European history, leading to the **Tarnovo School of Art** scholars fleeing to Russia and Serbia, spreading Bulgarian literacy across the Slavic world. The village of **Arbanasi** tells a story of survival through wealth. During the 17th century, it was a tax free zone where Greek and Bulgarian merchants built fortress houses with thick stone walls and hidden exits. Inside the humble **Church of the Nativity**, they painted a **Wheel of Life** mural one of the most complex theological artworks of the era away from the eyes of the Ottoman authorities. This province was also the site of the first **Bulgarian Parliament** in 1879. A road trip here is a drive through the **Valley of the Monasteries**. The **Preobrazhenski Monastery** clings to the cliffs of the Dervent Gorge, while the ruins of **Nicopolis ad Istrum** reveal a Roman city founded by Emperor Trajan to celebrate his victory over the Dacians. From the artisan workshops of the **Samovodska Charshiya** to the terrifying **Execution Rock** at the edge of the fortress, the province is the concentrated essence of Bulgarian statehood.

Veliko Tarnovo (province)