There aren’t many castles and fortresses left in Bulgaria, but it doesn’t mean that they have never existed. It just happened that they hadn’t survived the present day. However, there’s one place in Bulgaria that collects in one all the past glory of this country in the Middle Ages, and this is Tsarevets – the stronghold of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th – 14th century).
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How to get to Tsarevets
As Tsarevets is a fortress in Veliko Tarnovo (North Bulgaria), first you will need to get to Veliko Tarnovo. The city is easily accessible from Sofia, Varna or Plovdiv and from Romania (Bucharest) and Turkey (Istanbul). For more information on how to get to Veliko Tarnovo, check my city guide on Veliko Tarnovo.
I would recommend that you stay a few days in Veliko Tarnovo. It’s a really nice city with beautiful views and interesting places to visit. If you need a hotel, it could be quite overwhelming to choose the right place – near Tsarevets or outside of the city. I’ve lived for 13 year in this city and can recommend you the best places to stay in Veliko Tarnovo. Make sure you read my hotels guide.
Tsarevets Fortress with the Patriarchal Church on top of the hill and the King’s Palace, where the Bulgaria flag is waving.
- By car
If you are coming to Veliko Tarnovo only for a day to visit the fortress, parking in the city can be overwhelming. It’s actually a nightmare, to be completely honest. So, I would advise you to use the parking that’s in the foot of the hill where the fortress is located. The address is ul. “Kraybrezhna” 43.
- On foot
If you are staying for a longer time in the city, the best way to reach Tsarevets is by walking. Thus, you will also see Veliko Tarnovo and enjoy its architecture from the Bulgarian Revival Period (18th – 19th century).
Admission to Tsarevets
Although you can reach the fortress, admire it from the square in front, get a few pictures and hop on your car to your next adventure, I highly recommend visiting the fortress. You will learn a lot about the history of this place and Veliko Tarnovo and get some pretty amazing views of the city from the top of the hill.
- Opening hours
April-October: 8:00 – 19:00
November-March: 9:00 – 17:00
- Tickets
You can buy them at the entrance. Price is 6 BGN (about 3 EUR). If you are still at school or a student, you pay only 2 BGN (about 1 EUR). There are also some combination tickets for Tsarevets and Trapezitsa and other historical sites. You can check these at the Tourist Information Centre or at the entrance of each museum/historical site in Veliko Tarnovo.
Visiting Tsarevets Foretress
What to expect from Tsarevets
The fortress with the surrounding ramparts has been continuously in restoration since the 1960s. The Patriarchal church, the Baldwin Tower and the two gates are completely restored today. During the excavations there were found 470 residential buildings, 23 churches, 3 monasteries and an inn. When visiting Tsarevets, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes, as visiting the fortress involves some degree of hiking on cobbled pathways. From the Patriarchal Church you have this beautiful view over the city. The frescoes in the church are modern and not among my favourite ones. The gloomy colours contribute to a very depressed feeling. If this was the intention of the artist, he had succeeded in it.
The recently renovated square in front of Tsarevets Fortress. If you wonder what those eggs are doing in the basket – for Easter according to the tradition they paint eggs in different colours in Bulgaria.
Why should you visit the fortress
If you a mindful tourist that is eager to learn about the past of a country you are visiting, or you are a history geek that’s been bitten by the travel bug, Tsarevets is the perfect attraction to include on your sightseeing tour of Bulgaria. Tsarevets is the stronghold of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th – 14th century) when Tarnovo was its capital. Well, you can be none of these and I still recommend you visiting this place, as it has this special charm and uniqueness and there are some lovely views on the surrounding hills and the picturesque city of Veliko Tarnovo.
Why is Tsarevets important
Most people don’t know that Bulgaria was one of the super powers in Europe in the Middle Ages, always questioning the dominance of the Byzantine Empire and later the Latin Empire. The Second Bulgarian Kingdom existed between 1185 and 1396 occupying the territories on the Balkan Peninsula between the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Under the Assen Dynasty (the kings that ruled Bulgaria in those ages) Tarnovo was called the “Third Rome”, being an important hub of Medieval architecture, literature and art. The two most significant schools of those days are the Tarnovo Artistic School and the Tarnovo Literary School. The first one set the trends in the medieval painting and the second one gave some major religious and secular literary works.
This photo can be considered a bit outdated, as they had recently renovated the square in front of the fortress. Still a beautiful view to the city and the Cathedral.
The legend of Baldwin
Tsarevets doesn’t come short of legends, if you like stories about knights and crusaders, love and treachery. One of the legends says that the First Emperor of the Latin Empire – Baldwin I, defeated by the Bulgarian King Kaloyan, was kept a prisoner in one of the towers in the fortress. The queen fell in love with the prisoner and the king ordered the execution of the Latin Emperor. Another legend says that Kaloyan has made a wine goblet out of Baldwin’s skull. One of the towers today is called the Baldwin Tower, although there’s no evidence that Baldwin was kept prisoner there if at all being imprisoned in Tarnovo.
The Execution Rock
Opposite the Baldwin Tower, on the other side of the hill, there’s the Execution Rock. The story goes that the traitors were thrown from this rock into the Yantra River. Just be careful when taking selfies there, as it is a dangerous place.
Tips for visiting Tsarevets
Dos
- Wear comfortable shoes, as a lot of climbing is involved and walking on paths covered with cobbled stone
- Bring a bottle of water or other refreshments with you
- If you have problems with walking, bring walking sticks
Don’ts
- Do not venture the hill on a hot summer day
- Do not carry a heavy backpack or other luggage
- Do not walk on the walls as it’s dangerous
Sound and Light Show
Not only during the day is Tsarevets a tourist attraction, in the evening you can enjoy the Light and Sound show on the fortress – lasers, colourful lights and dramatic music. The show is played free of charge on bank holidays and can be enjoyed from the square in front of the fortress. You can check here the days when the show will be played, so that you can buy tickets.
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Have you been to Veliko Tarnovo and have you visited the fortress? Did you know that Tsarevets is one of the most popular attractions in Bulgaria among the locals? What is your most favourite place/attraction in Bulgaria?
I had not heard of Tsarevets but it sounds like a interesting place. I do really enjoy learning about the countries that I visit. I love that they do a laser show on some nights.