The Association of Restaurants in Bulgaria is preparing to block dozens of road junctions and busy intersections in over 30 settlements in protest against the return of the 20% VAT rate on their services as some have decided that it is not the right time to protest not all local restaurant associations will take effective action Representatives of the restaurant sector in Plovdiv will protest on March 19 and 20 at 4:00 p.m Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association protests in Veliko Tarnovo will begin in front of the Mother Bulgaria Monument at 3:30 p.m. said Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association Chair in Veliko Tarnovo Petar Stefanov a procession will start along Nikola Gabrovski Street with nearly 2,000 people working in the restaurant and hotel business expected to walk to the Kachitsa Intersection effectively blocking part of the main Sofia-Varna road for half an hour About 60 cars with representatives of the Association of Restaurants in Southwestern Bulgaria will set off on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m member of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Organization They will be joined in stages by their colleagues from Dupnitsa Blagoevgrad and the entire Southwest region Members of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Organization in Haskovo will not participate in the protest said Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association Chair in Haskovo Stoycho Ganashev The decision was made to support the position of the Association of Restaurants in Bulgaria with severe unrest around the world and war on the territory of Europe against the backdrop of the huge tragedy that occurred in North Macedonia with the loss of dozens of young people there is no point in further inflaming the tension and boycotting in streets and intersections We decided that we should rather be reasonable and empathetic to the pain of the people," Ganashev commented "We stand in solidarity with our colleagues from the country but we will not protest effectively," said Milen Tsonev He stressed that the higher VAT will lead to many problems in the industry "Our country is one of the few in the European Union with a high tax rate for tourism and establishments it is differentiated and they keep it low," Tsonev pointed out.  The VAT rate for restaurant and hotel services was reduced to 9% during the COVID-19 pandemic It was returned to its pre-COVID rate of 20% in July 2024 for tourist services and in January 2025 for restaurant and catering services with the Finance Ministry expecting the measure to generate BGN 371.5 million in additional revenues for 2025 The restaurant sector has repeatedly said that the VAT rise will lead to bankruptcies and will not help achieve the revenue projected in the 2025 State Budget Bill Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages The independence of Bulgaria was proclaimed on 22 September After the most audacious independent act in Bulgarian history – the unification of Eastern Rumelia with the Principality of Bulgaria – Bulgarians once again demonstrated the power of unity and faith in their own capabilities This day is marked as an official state holiday and is a symbol of the change in Bulgaria’s international legal status It marks the transformation of Bulgaria from a vassal state to a free and sovereign entity in international relations That is the briefest description of Independence Day which even the Bulgarian students around the world learn from their history books But historians are the people who can guide the public through the tangle of facts individuals and global political processes “Independence Day is one of the most important days for Bulgarians because it is the day when full statehood was attained,” says historian Prof Deputy Rector for Scientific Research and Artistic Activity of the University of Veliko Turnovo Sts We talk to him about the importance of Independence Day:“In the public mind the date that stands out is the day of Bulgaria’s liberation from 5 centuries of Ottoman domination though that marked Bulgaria’s resurrection Independence Day (1908) is the date when Bulgaria became a state in the full sense of the word because it was not subordinated to anyone else as had been the case before that – to the Ottoman Empire So that 22 September is the day on which we should feel particularly proud of having achieved something like this.” At the centre of the events at the time was Bulgarian Prince Ferdinand, alongside Prime Minister Alexander Malinov. It is to them that we owe the Manifesto which the prince read out in the 40 Holy Martyrs church in the old capital of Bulgaria Tarnovo “With the proclamation of the country’s independence Ferdinand became Tsar of Bulgarians but there is one more thing that is very important – for Bulgarians and at the same time this Manifesto also targeted the Bulgarians who had been left outside the boundaries of free Bulgaria,” Nikolay Kanev says.Historians often delve into the details of historical events Nikolay Kanev takes a look at the global map of geopolitical interests and there he sees the reason for the ruination of the Bulgaria dream: “Nobody had an interest in a united Bulgaria But the problem was not so much in the size and the power of the country the problem was that a united Bulgaria was bound to become an unavoidable factor in European politics for purely geopolitical and economic reasons A united Bulgaria – from the delta of the Danube to Western Thrace and reaching close to the approaches of the Adriatic in practice meant that no world trade towards Europe and the Middle East could bypass Bulgaria nor could the political interests of the different global players come to pass without taking into account the role of Bulgaria.” "You must have strong faith and pray - then the saint will help you and carry your prayer to God," says Father Georgi Markov of the Church of St Athanasius the Great in Gorni Lozen near Sofia He adds that he has often witnessed the miracles of St. marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis. Bulgaria celebrates 149 years since the April Uprising – an event that led to the liberation of Bulgaria after almost five centuries of Ottoman rule we must not forget that every participant in the April. english@bnr.bg Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Veliko Târnovo’s medieval Tsarevets Fortress Time-travel from medieval battles to chic cocktail bars in one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities Veliko Târnovo has history echoing from every ivy-strewn eave: its darling old lanes and crumbling citadel exude charisma Here’s how to tackle the town – dramatic Tsarevets Fortress handicraft shopping and superb restaurants – in the space of a single weekend Looking up at Tsarevets Fortress, it’s easy to imagine Veliko Târnovo’s medieval glory days this was the capital of Bulgaria’s vast empire The restored fortress crowns the town to this day and it’s the unmissable starting point for exploring Veliko Târnovo a palace and numerous houses once stood here A sacking by the Turks in the 14th century reduced the complex to rubble though a 20th-century makeover has returned much of its grandeur and peer inside the Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of God built on the foundations of an early Christian sanctuary But the biggest thrill is the view. Veliko Târnovo is folded into a hairpin bend in the Yantra River and encircled by forested hills, a spectacular panorama when viewed from lofty Tsarevets. Once you’ve had your fill of medieval splendour, stagger into nearby Ivan Asen restaurant for satch (a sizzling hot plate piled with meat and veggies) a Bulgarian inn that has been going strong since the mid-19th century Belly full, walk to the western end of ul Rakovski and take the stairs down to the main drag, ul Stambolov and ul Nezavisimost. Though it teems with traffic, this busy artery through town has some excellent drinking haunts. One of the best is Sammy’s Bar (just off ul Nezavisimost) a merry cocktail place with a terrace overlooking the river – it’s an atmospheric spot to raise a glass of rakia (potent fruit brandy) For an even better glimpse over night-time Veliko Târnovo watch out for signs to the Skywalk (ul Stambolov) on the way From this lookout platform you can lean out to a dizzying view of the valley Rakia lingering in your brain cells will soon disperse after a stroll along Veliko Târnovo’s oldest street. Whitewashed houses, draped in roses and ivy, cluster haphazardly along Ulitsa Gurko This scenic lane is a cornerstone of local history: in 1877 the street’s namesake General Gurko led a Russian army into town finally freeing Veliko Târnovo from Ottoman control The street’s most remarkable house (and optical illusion) is Sarafkina Kâshta At street level it appears to have two floors but viewed from the river its full five floors overhang the water tread across creaky wooden floors and gaze up at ornate carved ceilings It’s an enjoyable insight into how Veliko Târnovo’s well-to-do lived back in the 19th century listening eagerly for news of the latest Paris fashions and gossiping on the way to church Further along ul Gurko, stop for a hearty lunch at Hotel-Mehana Gurko Snag an outdoor table and you can sit beneath vine-draped trellis while you tuck into a plate of shopska salad (crisp cucumber and tomato showered in salty cheese) along with succulent grills and stews From the inn, follow ul Gurko south before hiking left on ul Asen Ruskov and across the bridge. Throughout your time in Veliko Târnovo, you won’t fail to have noticed the Asenevtsi Monument rising from a narrow spit of land in the Yantra River Its central column is a sword pointing heavenward who bolstered medieval Bulgaria’s status on the world stage and still inspire misty-eyed tales of bravery Facing the monument is the State Art Museum also known as the Boris Denev Gallery after a local artist Denev rose to acclaim through dreamy paintings of rural landscapes and much of the art in the gallery is tuned in to similar pastoral nostalgia discover nature beyond the canvas with a walk around Stamboliyski Park the leafy stretch of land extending east from the gallery language exchange and raucous late-night hangout Alternatively, wander back east towards Tsarevets to witness the Sound & Light Show, which bathes the fortress in scarlet and green to a soundtrack of booming cannons: a fitting finale for 48 hours in this majestic town. This Q&A column focuses on the indeterminate borders between off-/project-/artist-run spaces and the people that keep them going [#Off Space Q&A] Gallery Heerz Tooya (2019-) is an artist-run gallery dedicated to contemporary art The exhibition program consists of Bulgarian and international Previous artists exhibiting at Herz Tooya include Carl Mannov The majority of exhibitors are from the ARV.International residency program The plans for the exhibition program in 2021 will consist of three solo exhibitions with the same opening night at the end of each month The exhibitions are curated by Lars Nordby and Nicolas Tagnati and writer published by JohnJohnBooks in Amsterdam in the Netherlands He used to run the art gallery initiative Oslo Kunsthavn (2013-15) in Oslo in Norway He now runs the contemporary art gallery Heerz Tooya and is the director of the artist residency ARV.International Nordby’s upcoming solo exhibitions in 2021 are at 12-14 Contemporary in Vienna; at Reneenee in Amsterdam; and Galleri Sol in Bornholm Nordby will also launch his first large photo book project and holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Oslo National Academy of Arts (2016) www.larsnordby.comhttps://www.instagram.com/arv.international/www.heerztooya.comwww.arv.international Due to a complete lack of venues dedicated to contemporary visual art in Veliko Turnovo Bulgaria’s old capital – I believe it was a good idea initiating gallery Heerz Tooya but mostly a source of inspiration for myself and the artists-in-residence at ARV.International When working as a freelance visual artist and simultaneously working on establishing the artist residency ARV.International and Gallery Heerz Tooya dependency has been and still is a fragile and convoluted matter have carried a lot of weight during the inception of Heerz Tooya I don’t really see myself as a primal connector/networker Except for a great escape to never-ever land a financial endeavor is what’s kept me busy So I would be lying if I didn’t mention financial support I am glad I’ve managed to keep Heerz Tooya throughout 2020 The exhibition program in 2021 is stronger than ever and you’ll find a remarkable resemblance to what’s going on today I am a bit tired of the digital response to the Covid-19 situation I have full empathy for the need and importance of keeping the art scene afloat providing artists getting paid and the activity alive I just really miss the raw presence of artwork and the milieu – ah opening crawls; I never thought I would miss that usual bunch of people so much I believe our known unknowns are our unknown unknowns I find it amusing and inspiring to see how important it is for us humans to find meaning It is quite related to my artistic practice and thematic framework where I explore man’s obsessive relationship to identity and the pursuit of ideological affiliation I’ve always been entrained by the rhizome approach It is also something my garden is suffering from day by day Always prepared and ready for my upcoming solo exhibitions I want to give the artists total freedom yet I am eager to establish a certain standard and character It is a beautiful conflict I am unable to summarise By standing on the shoulders of my father and uncle I have been given a great opportunity to further develop their old studios into the artist residency ARV.I I finally have an intern with me next year Ivan and Peter Asen led a bloody rebellion against Bulgaria's Byzantine overlords in 1186 The Asen family went on to found a powerful dynasty and ruled Bulgaria for a century.  Sofia is the capital of modern day Bulgaria but the Asen Tsars ruled from Veliko Tarnovo A monument to the Asen dynasty in the center of the city marked 800 years after the Asen brothers proclaimed Veliko the capital Ivan and Peter ruled the newly liberated Bulgaria together and undertook battles against Byzantine forces A system of hereditary rule allowed the family to retain power and the seat of the Tsar was exchanged regularly between family members Ivan Asen II overthrew his own cousin Boril and then blinded him Others died in attempts to expand the empire too.  The monument Veliko Tarnovo looks down on to the Yantra river and the old town The statues depict the first four Asen rules; Ivan Each Tsar flails a sword on a horse reared up on its hind legs They circle a huge sword pointing up to the sky.  A monument to the Turkish librarian who delivered books on the back of a donkey This statue stands in honor of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry the French author of 'The Little Prince' and an aviation hero who created the iconic cartoon that features Charlie Brown A Taiwanese garden teems with the retired statues of the island's former dictator located at a mansion-turned-emancipation museum honors Galveston’s history as the birthplace of Juneteenth This abandoned park is home to hundreds of stone statues ranging from humans to mystical beings A monument to one of Croatia's famous freedom fighters When this monument to Slovenia's national poet was erected it's said to have sparked the ire of nearby church authorities This webpage uses Cookies and JavaScript in order to work properly We strongly recommend to enable those technologies in yur browser In case of wrongly displayed content you can request necessary information at e-mail address wwwadmin@mzv.cz The visit was part of the economic diplomacy activities On the 5th of October 2017 the Deputy Head of mission of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Mr and the Director of CzechTrade Agency in Sofia visited Veliko Tarnovo as a follow-up to a previous visit by the Czech Ambassador H.E The purpose of the visit in the town of Veliko Tarnovo was to establish whether there is an opportunity for possible cooperation between Czech and local companies from the town and the region The Czech representatives were first received by the Regional Governor of Veliko Tarnovo Mrs Lubomira Popova and the Deputy Regional Governor Mrs They then met with Deputy Mayor of Veliko Turnovo on Economic Affairs Mrs construction of sewerage facilities in small settlements and introduction of electric buses in urban transport Opportunities for Czech investments in the field of machine building and in food industry were presented on both of the meetings the representatives of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo informed the guests that a FairDeal project is being prepared within the framework of the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria 2014-2020 program for the construction of an electronic platform for sale and advertising of agricultural products The project is aimed at promoting trade in the food industry allowing foreign subjects to participate in it as well The possibility of testing new models of electric buses produced in the Czech Republic by the company SOR was also discussed at the meetings The Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo is preparing a project for introduction of electric buses in order to develop tourism in the town which will be financed by OP "Regions in Growth 2014-2020" The Bulgarian side has also expressed interest in finding a solution to the problem with household wastewater in remote settlements The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students Daniel Panov has been the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Municipality since 2011 he graduated from Vasil Levski National Military University as a machine engineer and until 2002 he built a successful career within the Bulgarian army he was appointed manager of Tsarevgrad Tarnov Municipal Company, established at that time he completed his second Master's degree in Public Administration from St he received the award of the State Tourism Agency for contribution in promoting cultural tourism he received a personal award from the Minister of Economy Energy and Tourism for the management of Samovodska Charshiya Architectural and Ethnographic Complex he became the recipient of the Tourism Manager Award by the Ministry of Economy Energy and Tourism for the Sound and Light Audio-Visual Spectacle he was elected chairperson of the Management Board of the National Association of Bulgarian Municipalities (NABM). In October 2019 Panov was granted a third consecutive term having won the local vote in the first round digging and brushing the soil of Trapezitsa Hill foraging for ancient relics in the midday sun We nip down to our room for a siesta on crisp cotton Whether you are unearthing 5,000-year-old burial sites or unlikely boutique beds The first backpackers arrived here by default As a stop on the Bucharest-Istanbul rail route and being midway between Sofia and the Black Sea coast it's the kind of place that backpacker flexi-time naturally leads you to Sprinkled over the basin and hills of a dramatic meander of the Yantra river Veliko Turnovo is home to Bulgaria's most prestigious university and the bars and clubs that keep them entertained Over the past few years Bulgaria has become a byword for cheap package holidays to the Black Sea coast and credit crunch-friendly ski breaks to Bansko Veliko Turnovo is one of the country's best-kept secrets Keen students of Balkan nationalism will know that it was here that Bulgaria's first constitution was written and later where the country declared its independence in 1908 But Veliko Turnovo isn't a place to exercise your brain It's a place to stare at from as many angles as possible is a disappointing one: the bus station is in the new part of town a botched communist-era job of too much concrete and too many rectangles and within 10 minutes we are at the opposite end of the visual spectrum The Hotel Studio is probably the most stylish hotel in Bulgaria The sleek reception and chic minimalist rooms wouldn't look out of place in any west European capital Neither would the design flourishes - dim neon perspex lamps and a plush red armchair by the bed backing on to a wall pasted in black floral motifs - or the restaurant serving fusion cuisine and fine wines The bulk of the town is scattered across a hill wedged between two river gorges We can see the entire western face of the fortifications bound by a ring of walls and medieval ramparts In the centre the fortified shaft of the Patriarch's Tower is the king of the castle from where traitors and invading rotters were nudged into the river the archaeologists are digging away at Veliko Turnovo's second hill where recent excavations have unearthed the burial sites of some of Bulgaria's first kings The surrounding slopes are coated in forest but where they even out hundreds of red pantile roofs cap the wood-and-stone houses which look like a cross between Adriatic villas and Alpine chalets the stark green neo-Byzantine domes of the Sveta Bogoroditsa church bubble from its sandy yellow walls We plod through the centre of town into the historic Samovodska Charshiya quarter On a cobbled street dozens of artisans are peddling their goods Jewellers chisel and hammer behind wooden workstations and artists take a break from painting gilt icons on to dark slabs of wood to walk us around their shops In an antique shop the size of a cupboard a large babushka sits wedged behind a tiny desk surrounded by a clutter of communist relics A few minutes north and we're in the Varosha district the oldest residential part of town at the top of the hill and it feels as if we've wandered into a forgotten rural village The Hiker's Hostel was the first hostel to set up here six years ago and now hosts a steady stream of backpackers the hyperactive 27-year-old manager famed for his daytrips We are driven half an hour out of town through beautiful parched countryside down a couple of dirt tracks and via a peculiar little monastery with an ornate rood screen and a painting of Jesus in which his eyes seem to close as you approach it becomes obvious why it is Hristo's favourite A tributary of the Yantra runs through a succession of natural rock pools in the middle of a forest Hristo eats two ice creams and smokes half a pack of cigarettes before falling asleep for two hours as we jump into the water from rocky ledges and sunbathe On the way back we stop off at lookout points where paragliders wait for gusts and in the tiny village of Arbanasi we visit the sublime Church of the Nativity (Rozhdestvo Hristovo) every inch of which is coated in richly coloured frescoes A number of restaurants along Stefan Stambolov The locals have an odd habit of naming their ventures in the fashion of Newquay clubs - we see a Scream And they seem to have an obsession with salad which offers the best view of all the restaurants and bars two dozen stews and a dish called "chicken and vegetable mess" But the bigger-the-menu-the-worse-the-food rule doesn't seem to apply here The Bulgaria-is-ridiculously-cheap rule does and we stuff ourselves for under £5 a head with wine We're here in the middle of the week and out of term time so Veliko Turnovo's nightlife - reputedly Bulgaria's best - is relatively subdued It turns out that the medieval capital of the Bulgarian tsars has a penchant for gangster rap and techno and more day trips and salads than you could possibly need but there's never an excuse for double-speed 50 Cent · Easyjet.com flies to Sofia. Flythomascook.com flies to Varna. It takes three and a half hours by bus from Sofia to Veliko Turnovo, four from Varna. Double rooms at Hotel Studio (studiohotel-vt.com) from about £60 benji.lanyado@theguardian.com Dr. Dimitar Petrov Mollov is the co-founder and the first chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association (1901). During the period until 1947, many important rules were adopted for the practice of the medical profession, moral - ethical norms and financial relationships between a doctor and patient. Membership during this period was mandatory. Due to the lack of the Ministry of Health at that time, the BMA even defines health policy. Dr. Dimitar Mollov laid the foundations of the Alexandrov Hospital in Sofia. Based on the temporary rules for the structure of the Medical Government of the Republic of Bulgaria immediately after the Russo -Turkish Liberation War, with a letter for the opening of the primary district hospitals in June 1879, hospitals in Vidin, Veliko Turnovo, Varna and Elena were discovered. Created the first chemical laboratory at the Supreme Medical Council. Follow us and join the community on our various social media sites On Easter, you will have a chance to see the unique spectacle “Sound and light” free over Tsarevets Fortress. The start of the show is on April 16 at 9 p.m. and can be seen from the square “Tsar Asen I”. This is not the only surprise that Veliko Turnovo Municipality has prepared to celebrate the holiday in the city. Those who choose to celebrate Easter in the old capital of Bulgaria will be able to receive one of 2700’s Easter eggs lit on Holy Thursday in the Cathedral “Nativity of the Virgin Mary.” The eggs were painted by students from the local primary school “St. Patriarch Euthymius”. At each egg, there will be a piece of cake. In Easter night of April 15, they will be given on  Square “Tsar Asen I” Earlier, at 10:30 p.m. the gates of Tsarevets Fortress will be open. In the Patriarchate Museum, “Vaznesenie Gospodne”the Bishop of Veliko Tarnovo Gregory will serve a Paschal celebration. At midnight ringing of all church bells will proclaim Christ’s resurrection. With the removal of the Holy Fire from the Patriarchate Bishop Gregory the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Daniel Panov will lead the procession. It will run from Tsarevets fortress to the Cathedral “Nativity of the Virgin Mary”, where at 1:00 in the morning will be held a liturgy. In the procession will include 150 volunteers with glowing torches. Another liturgy will be held on April 16 at 11 a.m. in the new temple ” Resurrection of Christ”. My greatest pleasure in life is to travel. Undoubtedly there are a lot of amazing places around the world worth visiting at least once in life. However, Bulgaria is such a place where you will wish to come back again and again. In every season and every region of this small country, you can find unique wonders. So share my travels. The Rhodopi mountains themselves offered a great number of slopes for beginners which made up the majority of skiiers on the mountain when we were there The runs were well graded and signposted clearly and at the end of the week there were still new (parts of) red and blue runs we were discovering It was only on the penultimate day that we first plucked up the courage to tackle the (appropriately named) "Wall" – a steep black run with some fantastic moguls to challenge us Get there as soon as you can.sarahcunliffe1 beautiful Greek-influenced peninsula surrounded by the Black Sea that is the final resting place of St John the Baptist as well as vampires from the middle ages and hundreds of marinated little fish that are perfect with the local wine Watch the old ladies boiling up fig jam in the streets stroll around the traditional stone and wood houses and then relax on the beach safe in the knowledge that a beer will cost you €1 at most where I attempted to find the great youth hostel promised in my guidebook raining and not an English-speaking soul was to be found but after 10 minutes walking around I gave up and checked in to a concrete monstrosity of a hotel It was expensive and shoddy and next day I found the hostel in about five minutes Find two French guys with a car and head up the coast stopping in fishing villages and in rural shops to pick up homemade yoghurt and soak up the glorious rock coastline of northern Bulgaria French guys with a car are optional.charlesfreedman The Tsar Boris hotel in Veliko Turnovo will be rescued from ruin and will be restored with the help of financing by American millionaire-philanthropist Edmund Beck The building has been falling apart for years even though it was declared a monument of culture in 1980 and work is already underway on a project to restore it who learnt his trade from the school of the builders of Dryanovo he was impressed by the beauty of the city and started buying abandoned old buildings of historical value and investing in their repair and restoration Edmund Beck is owner of the famed Hadji Nikoli tavern the tavern is now a luxury complex with a restaurant and art galleries For the investments he has made into the restoration and preservation of historical buildings in Veliko Turnovo Edmund Beck received the “Veliko Turnovo” award Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6) we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three. Today Bulgaria celebrates its independence from the Ottoman Empire On 22 September 1908 (Old Style) in the Holy Forty Martyrs Church in the city of Veliko Tarnovo the Independence of Bulgaria was proclaimed While officially being considered a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire Bulgaria had been de facto independent since its liberation in 1878 the Principality of Bulgaria was unified with the Ottoman province of Eastern Roumelia - an act that provided a vital stepping stone for the country's subsequent declaration of independence. The act of declaring independence was a formality that gave the Bulgarian state and government equal footing with other nations on the world stage and was widely supported by other European countries.  After a decision of the Bulgarian Parliament made on 10 September 1998 Independence Day has been celebrated as an official public holiday Independence Day is one of the most important days in Bulgaria This day is so significant that the government designated a fund that covers Independence Day festivities all over the nation the celebrations happen not just on the territory of Bulgaria but also abroad Festivities take place throughout the country but the main ceremony is traditionally held on the evening of 22 September in Veliko Turnovo where Bulgaria’s independence was announced The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital mostly from the Bulgarian lands will be put on display in an exhibition called “Colours design” which opens at the Rafael Mihailov gallery in Veliko Turnovo tomorrow are from the collection of Jaap van Beelen Jaap van Beelen from the Netherlands first set foot in Bulgaria half a century ago he was so captivated by the natural beauty of the country and its warm-hearted people that he forgot about his final destination entirely He started making regular trips to Bulgaria and 20 years ago settled here – he bought a house by the sea and has now made a home for himself in Veliko Turnovo The house he lives in is next door to the home in which prominent writer and poet Petko Slaveikov once lived (“My friend and tutor” as he calls him.)As he fell in love with nature he started collecting Bulgarian carpets depicting the hues and ornaments of the plant and animal kingdom “The public in Veliko Turnovo will be able to see a magnificent exhibition of carpets from Eastern and Western Bulgaria,” says Dr curator of the exhibition and director of the Museum of History in Chiprovtsi “Jaap van Beelen collected his carpets in Bulgaria but also in countries close by and far away that is why there are carpets from Chiprovtsi and Kotel but also from the Balkans and the Caucuses The exhibition is arranged in an intriguing way in the 8 halls – chronologically or based on the ornamentation For example by presenting a popular theme with Chiprovtsi carpets - chickens and the way this ornament has evolved through the years The earliest carpets included in the exhibition go back 250 years.” Jaap van Beelen has more than 200 carpets in his collection the most valuable of which are not to be found even in national museums in the country Anita Komitska says that the most valuable items of the Chiprovtsi carpet weaving school have ornaments with chickens and vines “The oldest items in the exhibition are the Chiprovtsi prayer rugs called “bakam” and “garibaldi”,” she adds “They are woven using a vertical loom and the ornamentation is geometric structured from a central field and one or several borders They are made using natural dyes and that lends them an incredible softness and beauty of hues and makes the carpets themselves more durable as representatives of the Museum of History in Chiprovtsi are especially thankful that at this year’s festival of Chiprovtsi carpets Jaap van Beelen gifted us a very old and valuable “bakam” rug Turkey and he made the kind gesture of bringing it back to the place it originally started form In the years of Ottoman rule thousands of square metres of prayer rugs were being woven in Chiprovtsi “bakam” being one of the varieties of these rugs.” Is the carpet weaving tradition still evolving in our day or is the tradition in this ancient craft strictly adhered to “The carpets – at least in Chiprovtsi and Kotel – are still made using the ancient technique,” Anita Komitska says “With the carpets from Chiprovtsi a vertical loom is used and the result is a smooth carpet with two faces Locals still weave their carpets in this way replicating designs from different periods in history and using only natural dyes.” A pianist and conductor with a world-class career Ivan Yanakov has been performing on several continents for decades He has played as a soloist with prestigious orchestras in famous halls The Night of Musicals takes place tonight at the Vasil Levski Palace of Culture and Sports in Veliko Tarnovo The first major ballet event in the festive jubilee programme celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stara Zagora Opera is the premiere of "Parisian Nights" Today President Rumen Radev will be guest of honour at the ceremony marking the start of the new academic year at the University of Veliko Turnovo Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius The ceremony begins at 11 AM in front of the monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius after which the Bulgarian head of state will address the students lecturers and representatives of the academic community Hristo Bondzholov will officially inaugurate an interactive tuition lab for disadvantaged students Almost 4,000 first-year students – bachelors and masters of art will join the big family of the University of Veliko Turnovo Because of the coronavirus pandemic not all students in Bulgaria will be welcomed with an academic ceremony In many universities the academic year will begin in remote tuition mode like the University of National and World Economy are combining in-person lectures with distance learning The websites of two key institutions - the Customs Agency and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) - as well as the website of the Ministry of Electronic Government (MEU) were temporarily unavailable The technical problem affected the work of. Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7 The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani people will be able to withdraw money  from ATMs only in the new currency according to the website of the Bulgarian. helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day. Funding has been secured for the European programs “Care at Home” and “Hot Meal” HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? A Bulgarian court has sentenced Georgi Zhelyazkov and Stoyan Stoichkov to 19 and 17 years in prison for the savage murder of Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris in 2000 Veliko Turnovo Court of Appeals turned down the prosecutors' request that the two should be given life sentences and ordered that they are arrested immediately were also ordered by the court to pay Borilski’s mother 120 000 leva The rulings of the court can be appealed within fifteen days The arrest warrant however is not subject to appeal The trial for the killing of 24-year-old Borilski in Paris has been dragging on for 10 years with numerous twists and turns French firefighters discovered the brutally murdered Martin Borilski in his apartment in Paris There were 93 stabbing wounds on his corpse were acquitted by the first two Bulgarian instances - the Shumen District Court and the Veliko Turnovo Appellate Court Amidst the pressure of protest rallies and stark remarks on the part of French Ambassador to Bulgaria Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations returned the "Borilski" murder case to the Appellate Court in the city of Veliko Tarnovo for retrial Marinski and the lawyer for the Borilski family told the magistrates the French authorities have done their probe perfectly and there is irrefutable evidence of the defendants' guilt They were countered by Zheliazkov's and Stoichkov's lawyer who defined the French investigation as sloppy She says there isn't any proof her clients committed the crime but Lulcheva says the fact her clients were in Borilski's apartment does not make them killers a former investigator and now top lawyer from Varna had secured a fake internship document for Borilski and the suspects wanted money in exchange for the favor Zheliazkov and Stoichkov arrived in Paris that summer broke and began harassing Bulgarians living there for funds They asked about Borilski's whereabouts numerous times adding that after Borilski refused to give them money left Paris and 2 years later came up with the story Borilski fell victim of an unknown assailant We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria Toxic gases released during the fire on the Sofia-Kardam train reached a lethal concentration in about 4.5 minutes according to expert testimony in the case which is being retried by the Veliko Tarnovo Appellate Court Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) appointed Thursday Judge Nelly Batanova as Chair of the Shumen District Court who were found guilty for the murder of Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris will sue Bulgaria before the European Court ofHuman Rights in Strasbourg Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations has confirmed the sentences of the two young men who murdered Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris in 2000 stated Thursday he is seeing encouraging signs the reform of the Bulgarian judicial system is going in the right direction An 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Haskovo has been found dead A 33-year-old man from the village of Semchinovo has been taken into custody by the police for physically assaulting a 10-year-old child A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase one the most popular destinations for cultural tourism in Bulgaria expects a rise in the number of tourists in the coming months The town  that used to be Bulgaria’s capital in the Medieval period has more than 7,000 years of history and its guests are astonished by the houses built amphitheatrically on the banks of the Yantra River museums and the emblematic Tsarevets stronghold located on a hill crowned by a patriarchal church As spring is almost here, the municipality team are near the completion of a project related to the enrichment of the exposition of wax figures, presented in the Multimedia Visitor Center Completely realistic models of Bulgarian tsars are part of the new dioramas that present events related to the history of the old Bulgarian capital Radio Bulgaria’s Veneta Nikolova learned more about the tourist attraction that will be opened in the coming weeks manager of the municipal company "Tsarevgrad Tarnov": Veliko Tarnovo can welcome its guests with the new extension of our Multimedia Visitor Center opened in 2012 The exhibition used to be on 2 floors but it is currently being upgraded and now occupies 4 floors Here people will be able to see new scenes from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom The new exposition will present 37 wax figures that look like they are actually alive.” Another tourist attraction that has become more popular recently is wine tourism Veliko Tarnovo has several small and large boutique wineries While walking along the emblematic Samovodska Charshia tourists can stop by at the wine center where they can taste and buy wines produced in the region The town also relies on festival tourism to attract more guests in the summer a production of Verdi's Rigoletto performed by the Bucharest Opera will open this year's edition of Stage of the Ages Opera Festival in the Tsarevets Fortress which will continue until the beginning of September the fortress will host for yet another year the International Reenactment Festival "Tourists will immerse themselves into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages Tourists also show great interest in the adventure game called "The Secret of the Nine Keys" The unique experience will take you back to the glorious past of Tsarevets: people experience a very interesting tour of the whole hill and in fact become medieval detectives Participants try to discover what happens in the tale that they immerse themselves in People are provided with historical information that is part of the game and their tour becomes very entertaining," Borislav Yordanov says Facebook /Фестивал "Сцена на вековете" - Велико Търново Bulgaria’s Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and Zurab Pololikashvili Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) have officially signed the agreement for Bulgaria to host the 9th Global Conference on Wine Tourism,. The Mini Bulgaria Park is an unusual place for a tourist tour spiritual culture and natural landmarks of Bulgaria meet Gorna Oryahovitsa often remains undeservedly hidden from the eyes of tourists even though it is only about 10 km away from Bulgaria's old capital which lies at the foot of the Balkans on the banks of the. If you plan to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays in Veliko Tarnovo you can give yourself the unique light and sound performance over the Tsarevets fortress you can enjoy the Sound and light show from “Tsar Assen” I square Or to buy a ticket for the panoramic playground which offers the best view of the spectacle The ticket price is 20 leva per adult (approximately 10 Euro) and 10 leva per child (approximately 5 Euro) each guest will receive a free glass of red wine On Christmas (December 25) and on December 30 there are also two completely free shows that tell the story through light vision and sound The Christmas program of Veliko Tarnovo also includes a gala Christmas concert at the Konstantin Kisimov Theater on December 21 screenings of films and meetings with the actors involved a workshop will be held in the building of the Municipality for the production of child breeders Residents and guests of the city will be able to meet the new 2019th year and the square to smell the air of the past times and to feel the legends in the air And I'm lucky to have been born in a country with a glorious past and a lot of stories to tell Bulgaria was founded more than 1,300 years ago and has never changed its name their music and their art have changed over the centuries I invite you to take a walk through the different ages of Bulgaria and to get to know it better A sip of modernism and abstract beauty - this is what a tiny art gallery in Veliko Tarnovo - the former Bulgarian capital with a millennial-long history where the past reminds of itself at every step - offers one seems to get immersed into a different reality but to the present and even to the future The contemporary art gallery Heerz Tooya was founded in 2019 by Norwegian visual artist Lars Nordby It exhibits authors who are visiting the creative residence in the nearby village of Vishovgrad It turns out that Lars' father is an artist and back in 2005 he bought an old house in the village which he gradually turned into a cultural centre for artists from all over the world When Lars visited Vishovgrad for the first time in 2017 he felt really excited about the idea of ​​continuing the initiative named after a rare species of moth found in Mexico Sweden and other countries gather in Vishovgrad to create their art and then their works are exhibited in the Veliko Tarnovo gallery located in the heart of its old town "I really wanted to initiate a place for contemporary art Because there aren't many such spaces here and I decided that this would be good not only for the town itself since I run a creative residency where artists focusing on contemporary art work We gather mostly in the summer - from May to September Bulgarian and other artists also exhibit in the gallery So we do an average of one to three exhibitions a month we maintain relations with other galleries and cultural institutes in the country Lars explores the vast spaces of photography He graduated from the National Academy of Arts in Oslo in 2016 He is excited by theatrical aesthetics in everyday life and the quest for identity and ideological affiliation in the modern chaotic world of contradictions and uncertainty the Norwegian visual artist refuses to associate his art with politics I try to be positive and constructive," says Lars the Norwegian provoked the visitors of the Sofia-based gallery "Credo Bonum" with the exhibition ASTROTURFING AD HOCKERY where he mixed different martial arts with the social environment in search of the border between creativity and life Now Lars Nordby is working on a performance in Italy which he will present to the Viennese public He is also preparing for his next exhibition in Sofia which will be opened at the Institute of Contemporary Art in November.‎ "In cooperation with the curator Snezhana Krasteva we are preparing a constellation of my previous works in a new exhibition project This will be a sort of remix of my three previous exhibitions from 2016 in Norway The concept I'm working on is a continuation of my creative searches related to identity politics and power structures from the point of view of theatricality and everyday life This art installation will stay for 3 months at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Sofia I am glad that in this way I will also send a creative greeting to my Bulgarian colleagues," Lars Nordby admits Subscribe to newsletters to receive our hottest offers: On 1st of April will open the newest attractions of Veliko Turnovo – the Fortress Trapezitsa and Shishmans’ bathroom you can see the recovered 160 meters from the northern city wall and 3 churches from the 13th century with original frescoes the complex has an interactive museum where you can see the found objects from the excavations of the fortress There are nearly 1-kilometer walking paths Near the hill was built a parking for the convenience of the tourists Trapezitza is open to visitors every day from 8:00 a.m The entrance ticket costs 6 leva /approximately 3 euro/ as students will pay only 2 leva /approximately 1 euro / and the people of 60 years – 3 leva /approximately 1,5 euro/ The children up to 7 years and people with disabilities will see the castle for free If you take advantage to reach the attraction with the funicular you need to pay the extra 10 leva /approximately 5 euro / There are various discounts for families with children Every last Thursday of the month you can enter the castle itself for free The dates until the end of the year are April 27 November 30 and December 28 if the fortress is not closed to visitors in the winter For visitors will be open also the Shishmans’ bathroom which was in ruins during the last 30 years According to archaeologists and historians the attraction is the most authentic monument of medieval Veliko Tarnovo Tourists will be able to see the authentic walls of the bathroom The already restored  Shishmans’ bathroom will become part of the tourist routes in “Asenov” quarter in the town that include the churches “St Undoubtedly there are a lot of amazing places around the world worth visiting at least once in life Bulgaria is such a place where you will wish to come back again and again In every season and every region of this small country Veliko Tarnovo University is hosting the Fifth International Erasmus+ Week "Bulgarian Schools Abroad" 66 representatives from 13 countries will take part - Spain They will share experience and good practices in the organization of training in Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad the free electronic learning platform "Digital Bag - My Bulgaria" was created It is intended for Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad and is an addition to the paper textbooks Over one million tourists have visited the town of Veliko Tarnovo in 2013 which places Bulgaria’s former capital first in the ranking of most visited Bulgarian towns unlike many other Bulgarian tourist centers which fade away in the winter period the town of Veliko Tarnovo is full of life all year round The cultural life in this town is also very dynamic The temptations for all art fans are endless Let alone the tourists who struggle to see at least part of the local cultural and historical landmarks That is why many people return again and again to the town of Veliko Tarnovo to the delight of the local hotel owners In the summer time the old part of the town is full of foreigners mainly During big holidays and international meetings it is almost impossible to book a hotel room and guests usually make bookings in nearby places In order to feel the spirit of Bulgaria’s old capital though Take a walk along Gurko Street which is one of the most emblematic spots of Veliko Tarnovo pubs and small hotels are hugging closely together Visitors can enjoy there the pleasant view over the town spreading along the Valley of Yantra River Find at least one spare morning to visit the Samovodska Market and its neat workshops and souvenir shops You have to visit by all means the sweet house and buy a local coffee Turkish delight on a stick and even a syrup-soaked sponge cake You can also drop at the local museums - the Museum of Ethnography the Historical Museum and the Prison where the Bulgarian rebels were tortured by the Turkish enslavers You can also visit there the building of the first Bulgarian National Assembly One of the local landmarks is the Museum of the Wax Figures which opened in 2013 ordinary people and craftsmen from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom stand looking alive there the Tsarevets Hill and its Medieval Fortress is the most impressive sight in Veliko Tarnovo This emblematic place becomes a fantastic stage for the famous Sound and Light Show when the historical hill shines with fairy illumination and sound effects and perhaps wakes up from its century-old sleep to live again its former fame No matter how well you think you know this town you will always be surprised by something new and different starting from the numerous churches which can be visited in one whole weekend all the way to the local restaurants with wonderful local cuisine the hotels which compete with each other to offer all types of services An amusement train which takes tourists across the town’s landmarks is among the latest attractions of Veliko Tarnovo The train takes tourists even to the foot of Tsarevets Hill The guests of Bulgaria’s old capital can now visit the remains of the ancient Nicopolis Ad Istrum Roman Town which is situated some 25 kilometers away from the town The latest attraction was launched with a magnificent show accompanied with re-enactment of the famous legionary fights and medieval crafts Cultural tourism is among the top priorities of the local administration which invested in 2013 some EUR 3.5 million in tourist infrastructure Most of the money was granted by the Regional Development Operational Programme under various projects The town has the ambition to become the European Capital of Culture in 2019 Veliko Tarnovo is a cultural capital even at present That is why the International Cultural Tourism Exhibition which in 2014 welcomed participants from 11 countries is held in Veliko Tarnovo explains passionately Tsvetomir Boyadzhiev who runs the Tsarevgrad Tarnov municipal tourist agency adding that he and his colleagues are convinced that Veliko Tarnovo should become the European Capital of Culture “We have the self-confidence that we deserve it Our young people want to work under projects that present the cultural heritage of our town and create something for the future The private business invests in new hotels and restaurants the EU will grant money under various programmes for new archeological sights and attractions.” One of the projects envisages the construction of a riverside street along the Yantra A river beach and a park near the river are also to be launched Small water vessels could also become part of the attraction just like the popular Bateau Mouches in Paris Yantra River will be shining like Seine River and Veliko Tarnovo will turn into the City of Love 26 October the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki (St Russians and Serbs all vie for his intercession Pavel Pavlov from the Faculty of Theology of the St Dimitar is a major Balkan patron saint,” and that the veneration for him especially over the first millennium can be explained with the “proximity of the towns where he preached and where he was ultimately tortured –Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica) – the capital city of Pannonia within the bounds of the Roman Empire” During the second millennium worship of the saint spread to other regions “There is logic behind the church calendar of saint days with a specific event or the translation of holy relics Dimitar that day falls at the end of October the day on which the church gathers together its flock after the long summer and the hard work in the field People who have been working abroad come home internal family cycle of life begins for the church and for families and families are brought together in anticipation of the major feast – Nativity – which the church begins to make mention of from the time of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in early September.” and that in the Balkans all veneration seems to begin with veneration of the holy great martyrs St Dimitar as a warrior of Christ and a martyr can we say that every saint has his Golgotha especially in the 3rd and 4th century AD are more often than not from the army The army is a place where personal behavior was closely scrutinized and Christians were easy to pick out There are many nameless Christians who have lost their lives for their faith On 2 September the church honours all those thousands of martyrs from Nicomedia under Emperor Diocletian when the persecution of Christians in the early history of the church reached its peak Dimitar also has a connection with the Second Bulgarian Kingdom According to George Akropolites and other sources from the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century when the Normans came to the Balkans they started uprooting existing tradition but the saint prevented them from burning his miracle-working icon and it found its way to Turnovo This helped the 1185 uprising of Asen and Peter which brought about the restoration of the statehood of Bulgaria After a dispute with the emperor in Constantinople Asen and Peter returned to Turnovo offended They saw the arrival of the icon as a sign that the saint patronized the old Bulgarian capital and built the St Dimitar of Thessaloniki Church where they placed the miracle-working icon During the time of the Bulgarian National Revival Dimitar is depicted as a horseman spearing a man killed in his tent in front of the city walls of Thessaloniki on 8 October 1207 That is the other side of the interpretation – that the saint returned to his town to become its patron and protect it from the threat of being conquered by Asen and Peter’s brother – Tsar Kaloyan There is an erroneous interpretation here because at that time the town was in the hands of the crusaders when making interpretations we should never forget actual facts Historians do not agree on how the icon of St The best way to interpret this is to say that the saint himself went to the place where he was held in highest esteem.” the young Bulgarian state under the force of the Treaty of Berlin needed to draft its major law The inexperienced members of the National Assembly the Constituent National Assembly in the old Bulgarian capital city of Tarnovo adopted a liberal constitution sending the message that Bulgaria was already an independent state on its own path of development The Constituent Assembly was convened on February 10 and included the elite of Bulgaria from the times of the National Revival These were educated people who established their reputation during the times of struggle for independence and an autonomous church and rapid development of Bulgarian education and culture The Assembly also included representatives of the territories that remained outside the Principality of Bulgaria after the Berlin Congress so the idea of ​​unification of all Bulgarians in one country dominated discussions “There were voices that questioned the legitimacy of the Constituent Assembly due to the fact that there were significant territories inhabited by Bulgarians still outside the territory of the Principality,” Prof "This is why the issue was central at the beginning of discussions But for the fathers of the Tarnovo Constitution it was clear that the Bulgarian state must be legitimized and they proceeded with discussing the constitutional project the idea of ​​the Russian administration was the law to resemble the structure of these in force in autonomous territories of the Russian Empire the founders of the Tarnovo Constitution aimed at creating a constitution that symbolized the urge of Bulgarians towards national independence They altered greatly the original draft by Russian lawyer Sergei Lukianov turning the organic statute into a democratic constitution in the spirit of the most modern and advanced European countries.” The other main issue on the agenda of the Constituent Assembly was the choice of a new capital city the majority of members of the Assembly chose Sofia as the most important Bulgarian city – because of its central geographical location from the perspective of National Unification since it was considered that separation from Macedonia and East Rumelia was only temporary While the debates about the legitimacy of the new state were taking place two ideological trends were formed during the meeting – a liberal and a conservative one and it is these two circles where the future Bulgarian statesmen emerged from “It was a clash not only of different views about the structure of society but also of bright personalities," the historian says “Renowned people in the Constituent Assembly such as Petko Slaveikov and Marko Balabanov stood out new names also stood out and here I would mention Petko Karavelov and Konstantin Stoilov These are people that left a lasting trace not only in the spirit of the Constitution but also in the whole social and political development of Bulgaria at the end of the 19th century.” who were aware of the great importance of the historical moment and had the courage to do something huge separation of powers and the freedom of people - these are all principles included in the Tarnovo Constitution A traveling exhibition of the Archives State Agency dedicated to the preparation and work of the Constituent Assembly will be presented on May 3 in Burgas before returning to Sofia for the Night of Museums on May18 when citizens and guest of Sofia will be able to see the original Tarnovo Constitution Some of the first places a visitor to Sofia will go to are the Church of St George and the Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky “Another thing I really liked was the ancient Roman ruins throughout the country the fact that most of them weren't turned into some tourist attractionwhere you have to buy a ticket and wait in line to see them We just kind of stumbled upon all these ruins while wandering through Sofia so you can just walk through them.There's even some ruins in one of the metro stations nearby “I think Bulgaria is falling into the same category as Albania which is an amazing tourist destination that people don't know about Because our time in Albania we were amazed that nobody goes there and so far in the first couple of hours of Bulgaria I'm like - dude this place should be famous,” - says Steve from Canada who is visiting Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo with its Tsarevets fortress with his partner “Every medieval capital needs a good fortress and this one looks like something out of Lord of the Rings Kind of goes up and up and up into the mountain It's almost so medieval that it looks mythical Coming to this fort is really like going back in time and it is such a great experience.” it's older than Athens which is mind-blowing.It's got the amazing the edgy arts district of all the great bars,restaurants this place really needs to be on the map of one of the must-do cities in Europe.” I really like this kind of nature where you get a blend I really think the nature in Bulgaria is greatly underrated because for a European country they're actually quite large and have a very diverse sort of landscape So if you're somebody who really enjoys hiking and just being out in the great outdoors Bulgaria come to Bulgaria who would have known?” - Alina is amazed “I really wasn't expecting to love this country this much and I really hope that that came across in my videos I know so many people have actually already messaged me saying that they're now planning a trip to Bulgaria So that really warms my heart when you guys get inspired by my videos and come hear yourselves because it is a place that is just unforgettable.” “Now let's talk about the things I really liked about Bulgaria and spending a month in Sofia I feel like the minimum threshold for what people consider to be edible food is just so much higher in Bulgaria than it is in America all the ingredients in Bulgarian just tastes so fresh the tomatoes in this country are so incredibly good I'm sitting here months later still thinking about Bulgarian tomatoes and I always thought that Italy was the land of great tomatoes I think they're better in Bulgaria,” - American Sean is emphatic And after tasting the mish-mash (eggs fried with chopped tomatoes and peppers) “The amazing thing is that they don't put many spices But you don't taste 10 or 15 different spices This is the opposite of Pakistani and Indian food Desolate and abandoned places like the monument on Buzludzha Mountain - one of the world's most eerie and beautiful reminders of the past - attract lovers of so-called 'dark tourism' Dora Ivanova - founder of the Buzludzha Project Foundation This is how Julia describes her experience at the end of the film: “This is much more than just walking around an abandoned building We met an incredible group of people who share both the passion and the dedication to not just restore a monument but to breathe new life into it and build a better future It's not an easy task and certainly not a quick one are proof and should be an inspiration to us all that you anyone can make a difference if you want to.” the Bridge over Dryanovska River in the town of Dryanovo Cyril and Methodius Church and the House with the Monkey in Veliko Tarnovo the Covered Bridge in Lovech over the Osam River… are only some of the wonderful architectural masterpieces left by renowned Bulgarian architect master builder and sculptor Kolyo Ficheto (1800-1881) He was a self-educated builder who did not study architecture Nikola Fichev is the founder of the Bulgarian monumental architecture His life started in the village of Marcha situated three kilometers away from the town of Dryanovo Nikola Fichev’s descendant Konstantin Fichev told Radio Bulgaria Kolyo Ficheto was taught craftsmanship by the local master builders at an early age he started to tour the whole Balkan Peninsula During his travels abroad he learned different architectural techniques and used them later in his own buildings He communicated a lot with Italian craftsmen and builders in Albania and Croatia they told him about the popular Italian bridge Ponte Vecchio in Florence Kolyo Finceto built a similar covered bridge in Lovech Nikola Fichev was extremely modest and religious person I love what world famous Austro-Hungarian explorer and traveler Felix Kanitz wrote about Kolyo Ficheto Kanitz met Nikola Fichev and later described him as a typical Balkan personality each year he donated a lot of money for various charity causes It is pointless to mention how hard-working he was because only a very industrious person can do such a huge job and complete so many large projects I am sure than he did not sleep for many nights to fulfill all his projects It is interesting to note that Kolyo Ficheto did not draw He made his projects in 3D – he made wax prototypes of his future buildings and facilities Here is what Konstantin Fichev told Radio Bulgaria bout the scale of Kolyo Fichev’s works: I think Nikola Fichev became chief architect of the Danube Vilayet (province) governed by Vali Midhat Pasha He received many large public procurement orders for a period of 7-8 years only Dozens of buildings were made in that region and I don’t believe he made all of them personally he most probably had a huge entrepreneurial workshop Kolyo Ficheto managed to win Midhat Pasha’s respect after completing successfully the biggest bridge in the Balkans- the Bridge over Yantra River near Byala Kolyo Ficheto competed with Polish Architect Lyudmil Rola to win this procurement order The Bulgarian builder offered a much lower price and a twice-shorter deadline The famous bridge was built between 1864 and 1867 Constantine and Elena Church in Veliko Tarnovo- this was the last church built be the celebrated Bulgarian master builder and architect Kolyo Ficheto It is bright and tall and differs from all other Bulgarian churches because Konstantin is a very popular name in our family The third building I would like to mention is in connection with the preservation of Bulgaria’s tangible cultural heritage Nikola Fichev was inspired by Balkapan Inn in Istanbul (then Tsarigrad) to make a similar inn in Veliko Tarnovo All Bulgarians living in Istanbul at that time used to meet in Balkapan Inn Hadji Nikoli who was a rich tradesman from Veliko Tarnovo wanted to build a similar inn in Veliko Tarnovo as well the place became popular as Hadji Nikoli’s Inn This building can serve as an example for extremely positive attitude towards valuable patterns of the older Bulgarian architecture because their owners want to use the land underneath for different purposes or because they were inherited by a lot of people who couldn’t reach agreement what to do with these buildings Hadji Nikoli’s Inn was abandoned for some time in the past The inn was built on the Samovodska Charshia (market square) in Tarnovo and is one of the most-popular tourist attractions in this Bulgarian city The inn is very beautiful and has a huge inner courtyard Those who renovated The Hadji Nikoli Inn did a great job This can be done with other Bulgarian buildings as well A new look will be given to Veliko Turnovo Garden in Tarxien for the enjoyment and relaxation of locals Tarxien Rainbows will be able to use the football ground which will be set up to train nursery children while opening it up to other children to use to play their favorite sport at other times of the day The Veliko Turnovo garden in Tarxien will be rearranged to form an open space This place will be brought to life with a garden swings and a 5-a-side football pitch that will be able to be enjoyed by the public This project will be carried out with an investment of € 90,000 and is being funded by the Malta Community expressed satisfaction that as a result of this project the people of Tarxien will be able to enjoy a more accessible space “God willing we will see big transformation of the whole garden new swings for children as well as a 5-a side stadium This stadium has been closed for a long time but we have managed to fix it with these funds It will benefit the Tarxien Rainbows – in the morning it will be able to be used for the nursery then after it will be able to be used by the council for social and physical activities “ will be named after Constable Mark Farrugia who was killed while on duty in Tarxien in March 1999 Minister of the Interior Byron Camilleri who visited the project said that this was another project which provided an open space for everyone to enjoy He explained that the council intends to leave the stadium open at certain times of the day with the aim of getting children to play or train in their favorite sport Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities explained that in our island there is a thirst for more open green spaces He said that in addition to this investment other embellishment projects are being carried out in the heart of the community including the installation of lighting in Mdina Ilu fil-qasam ġurnalistiku għal dawn l-aħħar 25 sena u tinteressah kull ġrajja ta' interess għall-pubbliku kemm mil-lat ta' informazzjoni u anke ta' divertiment