It is right here that The Regional Historical Museum – Veliko Tarnovo – one of the most significant museum institutions outside Sofia, preserving the rich archaeological, historical and cultural heritage of the region.
The museum tradition in Veliko Tarnovo begins as early as 1871, and today the museum brings together many exhibitions and historical sites in the city and its surroundings.
If you are arriving at Sofia Airport and planning a visit to the old capital, a transfer from Sofia Airport to the Regional Historical Museum in Veliko Tarnovo is a convenient way to reach Veliko Tarnovo directly.
History of the Regional Historical Museum
The museum tradition in Veliko Tarnovo has more than 150 years of history. On 2 January 1871 a proposal was made to the Nadezhda community centre to create a museum that would preserve antiquities from the region.
In 1879 the Tarnovo Archaeological Society was founded, playing an important role in searching for and collecting historical finds. The first museum exhibition was set up in 1914, and in 1945 the museum was granted the status of a state museum.
Today the Regional Historical Museum is much more than a single museum building. Its structure includes many museums, churches, archaeological reserves and historical sites in Veliko Tarnovo and the region.
The Archaeological Museum – the history of Tarnovgrad
One of the main exhibitions is at the Archaeological Museum, where the exhibition "Tarnovgrad – Capital of Bulgaria in the 12th–14th Century" is presented.
It traces the development of the region from the earliest periods to the Middle Ages, with the main emphasis on the time when Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Among the archaeological finds, visitors can see objects related to the daily life, religion, trade and culture of the medieval city.
The museum is especially interesting for visitors who have already seen Tsarevets, because the exhibition helps explain how Tarnovgrad looked and functioned beyond the fortress walls.
The "Revival and Constituent Assembly" Museum
Another important site of the Regional Historical Museum is the museum "Revival and Constituent Assembly".
It is housed in the old Ottoman konak building, built in 1872 by the master builder Kolyu Ficheto. The exhibitions present the development of Veliko Tarnovo and the region in the Revival era, as well as important moments in the restoration of Bulgarian statehood.
The building itself is an interesting part of the visit – its architecture is linked to one of the best-known Bulgarian builders of the Revival period.
From the Middle Ages to modern Bulgaria
The museum network in Veliko Tarnovo lets you trace the history of the city through different eras.
В The "Modern and Contemporary History" Museum presents materials related to different periods in the city's development – from the Ottoman era and the Revival to more recent history. The exhibition is housed in Saraliev's House, built in the first half of the 19th century.
Other sites of the museum include the "Prison" Museum, Sarafkina House, medieval churches and other historical sites.
This makes the Regional Historical Museum a kind of route through the history of Veliko Tarnovo, not just a single place to visit.
Tsarevets and the medieval capital
The best-known site in the museum's structure is The Tsarevets Architectural and Museum Reserve.
For more than two centuries Tarnovgrad was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Tsarevets was the political and spiritual centre of the state, and today the fortress is one of the symbols of Veliko Tarnovo.
Visiting the Archaeological Museum and Tsarevets is a good combination – in the museum you can see the archaeological evidence of the medieval city, while on the hill itself you can walk among the remains of its fortress, the royal palace and the Patriarchal complex.
What else to visit in Veliko Tarnovo?
If you have decided to visit the Regional Historical Museum, you can also include several of the most interesting sights of the old capital in your itinerary:
- Tsarevets – the medieval centre of Tarnovgrad.
- Trapezitsa – the other great medieval hill of Veliko Tarnovo.
- The Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs – one of the most important medieval churches in the city.
- The Samovodska Charshiya – a popular tourist street with craft workshops and an old-world atmosphere.
- The Asenevtsi Monument – one of the city's emblems, standing beside the Yantra River.
- Arbanasi – an architectural and historical reserve with interesting Revival-era houses and churches.
- The "Tsarevgrad Tarnov" multimedia visitor centre – a place that presents the life and history of medieval Tarnovgrad.
For tourists arriving by air in the capital, a transfer from Sofia Airport to the Regional Historical Museum in Veliko Tarnovo is a convenient option for travelling directly to Veliko Tarnovo.
Instead of combining a plane, city transport, a bus or a train, you can arrange a direct journey from Sofia Airport to Veliko Tarnovo, with the museum, your hotel or another address in the city as the final destination.
This is a practical solution for families, tour groups and visitors who want to make the most of their time in Veliko Tarnovo.
A comfortable journey to Veliko Tarnovo with Tsenov Group
With Tsenov Group you can arrange a direct transfer from Sofia Airport to Veliko Tarnovo and back. If you wish, the route can be tailored to your schedule and include a visit to several sights in the city.
If you are planning a full historical tour, you can combine a transfer from Sofia Airport to the Regional Historical Museum in Veliko Tarnovo with a visit to Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Arbanasi and the other sights in the area.
For information and bookings:
0888 867 779 / 0887 606 185
