In the heart of the old capital rises Tsarevets – an architectural and museum reserve and the former main fortified centre of Tarnovo during the Second Bulgarian Empire. Today the fortress is among the most visited historical sights in the country.
If you are planning a trip from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo, a transfer from Sofia Airport to Tsarevets is a convenient way to reach the old capital directly and begin your visit without further changes.
The history of Tsarevets
Tsarevets Hill has a far more ancient history than medieval Tarnovo. Traces of human presence have been found dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, and in the 5th–7th centuries a significant Byzantine fortress town stood here. Later an Old Bulgarian settlement took shape on the hill.
The true heyday of Tsarevets began in 1185, when Tarnovo was proclaimed capital of the restored Bulgarian state. For more than two centuries the hill became the political and spiritual centre of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Tsarevets was ruled by monarchs such as Kaloyan, Ivan Asen II, Ivan Alexander and Ivan Shishman,and the fortress gradually grew into a complex medieval city with a palace, a patriarchal complex, churches, and residential and commercial buildings.
The fortress walls and the entrance to Tsarevets
One of the first features of Tsarevets to impress visitors is its massive fortress walls. The medieval defensive system was built to make the fullest use of the hill's natural terrain.
The surviving fortress wall is about 1100 metres, up to 3.40 metres thick in places and over 10 metres high. The main entrance is in the western part and is protected by successive gates, towers and a drawbridge.
Passing through the gates gives you the feeling of gradually entering a separate medieval city rather than simply an ordinary fortress.
The Royal Palace
In the central part of Tsarevets stands the palace complex – the place from which the Bulgarian rulers governed.
The complex was protected by an inner fortress wall and towers and included royal chambers, service rooms, a palace church and throne halls. Archaeological research shows the scale of the complex, which covered an area of about 4872 sq m.
A walk around the remains of the palace complex lets you see where the political centre of the medieval Bulgarian state stood.
The Patriarchal Complex
On the highest part of Tsarevets stands the Patriarchate, which was one of the most important spiritual centres of medieval Bulgaria.
The Patriarchal complex was a fortified ensemble with a church, a bell tower, residential and service buildings, a library and a scriptorium. The complex covers an area of about 2413 sq m.
Today its most recognisable part is the Patriarchal Church of the Ascension of the Lord. Rebuilt in 1981, it is distinguished by its modern murals, which depict dramatic moments from the history of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
From the bell tower there is a panoramic view over Veliko Tarnovo and the Yantra valley.
Tsarevets as a medieval city
Tsarevets was not simply a military fortress. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the foundations of 470 residential buildings, 23 churches, four urban monasteries and other buildings. This shows how lively the place was during the capital period.
People of differing status lived on the slopes of the hill, while the political and spiritual life of the capital was concentrated around the palace and patriarchal complexes.
That is exactly what makes a visit to Tsarevets so interesting: behind the walls stood not just a ruler's residence, but an entire city.
"Sound and Light" – Tsarevets after sunset
One of the most impressive attractions in Veliko Tarnovo is the audio-visual show "Sound and Light".
Using coloured lights, music, bell chimes and lasers, the show presents important moments of Bulgarian history on the walls of Tsarevets. The night view of the fortress, lit up during the performance, is one of Veliko Tarnovo's signature experiences.
What else to visit in Veliko Tarnovo?
A visit to Tsarevets can easily be combined with other sights in the old capital:
- Trapezitsa Fortress – the other great medieval fortified hill of Tarnovo.
- The Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs – one of the most significant medieval churches in Bulgaria, at the foot of Tsarevets.
- The Samovodska Charshiya – one of the most popular places for a stroll in the old part of Veliko Tarnovo.
- The Asenevtsi Monument – an iconic composition dedicated to the Asen dynasty, with a view over the Yantra and the city.
- Arbanasi – an architectural and historical reserve very close to Veliko Tarnovo, known for its old houses and churches.
- The "Tsarevgrad Tarnov" multimedia visitor centre – a place that presents life in Veliko Tarnovo in the Middle Ages.
For tourists flying into Sofia, a transfer from Sofia Airport to Tsarevets is a convenient option for travelling directly to Veliko Tarnovo.
Instead of using a combination of city transport, buses or trains, you can travel directly from Sofia Airport to Veliko Tarnovo, with the final stop at Tsarevets or the address of your hotel.
It is a practical choice for families, groups of friends and tourist groups, especially when you have limited time and want to start your tour immediately after arrival.
A comfortable trip to Tsarevets with Tsenov Group
With Tsenov Group you can arrange a direct transfer from Sofia Airport to Veliko Tarnovo and back. If necessary, the route can be adapted to your plans – a visit to Tsarevets, hotel check-in or onward travel to other sights in the region.
If you are planning a tour of the old capital, you can combine a transfer from Sofia Airport to Tsarevets with a visit to Trapezitsa, Arbanasi and the other historic places in Veliko Tarnovo.
For information and bookings:
0888 867 779 / 0887 606 185
