The town of Veliko Turnovo in central Bulgaria, at the foot of Stara planina is situated amphitheatrically on 4 hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora, the ridges of which were indeed the deeply inclined steep banks of the Yantra river meanders. Tsarevets was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in XII century AC. Ancient travelers write about the town of Turnovo as "the second after Constantinople" in its beauty and might.

  Seven centuries ago as a capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the town of Tsarevets had had a major role in the political and the spiritual life in Bulgaria. Although there are very little evidences preserved by now they give clear information for the might of the Bulgarian Tsar dynasties and the Bulgarian Patriarch influence together with the spiritual activities in the former throne town. Archaeological researches show a significant civil, residential and cult building. The most monumental of it were the King's and Patriarch's Palaces. The exquisite architecture, the original and realistic murals in the cherishes, the colourful mosaics and handdiccraft masterpieces show the high disposition and artistic genius of Bulgarian masters, such as Zachary Zograf and Kolio Ficheto.

  Now the old town quarters are preserved with their dislocated on terraces Bulgarian Renaissance houses, with their fine interior, handdiccraft workshops and cafes. The travelers today describe it as the most beautiful Bulgarian town and it is an administrative, economical and cultural center.

  The audiovisual performances "Sound and Light" are attractions for the visitors of the town. The Tsarevets Hill was the main fortress of the medieval Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo. During that period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom Bulgaria was the largest and the most powerful state in Southeastern Europe. The hill itself was inhabited as early as the 2nd millennium B.C. The ancient settlement existed even during the Iron Age, but was abandoned in the first centuries of the Roman rule. In the 4th century it was populated again, and at the end of the 5th century it already became a strongly fortified early Byzantine town. The medieval fortress had been raised during the 12th century on top of the foundations of the early Byzantine one. Today it is thoroughly studied and partially restored.

  The reservation site lends an impressive aspect with the ancient unassailable fortification system, consisting of strong stonewalls, stupendous gates, towers and embrasures, as well as with its residential and eclesiastical architecture. The three enormous gates of the Central entrance, situated on a narrow rocky isthmus, lead to the fortress itself. There was a draw bridge at the first of them. The central part - the flattest level of the hill was the place of the fortified King's Palace. It was surrounded by an inner stonewall, behind which there were also the Throne Hall, the Royal Church, and the royal chambers. And above all these the complex of the Patriarch's Palace was raising its walls high towards the sky. It has been restored nowadays. The interior of the Patriarch's Church has been decorated with modern wallpainting, representing miscellaneous moments of the history and culture of Medieval Bulgaria. In those years, well back in time, the slopes of the hill were studded with residential districts and craftsmen's quarters, numerous churches and monasteries.

  More than 400 residential buildings and 18 medieval churches have been found by archaeologists on the hill of Tsarevets Sites of interests are the churches of “St. Nikola”, “St. St. Kiril and Metodii”, “St. St. Konstantin and Elena”, the architectural monuments: the House with the monkeys, the House of Petko R. Slaveikov, the House of kokona (grand lady) Anastasia, Stambolov’s khan (inn), Samodivskata charshia (market of wood-nymphs) with lots of National Revival houses and working workshops, the monument of Assenevtzi, the monument “Mother Bulgaria”, the Stambolov’s bridge.