Tsarevets Veliko Tarnovo

The first settlement built on this historic hill dates back to the late Chalcolithic period (4200 BC). It continued to develop through the Bronze Age (4th–2nd millennium BC) and the Iron Age (13th–1st century BC), when it was inhabited by the Thracians. Between the 5th and 7th centuries AD, the Thracian settlement became Zikideva, the largest city of the Byzantine Empire in the province of Lower Moesia. It was destroyed during the Avar-Slavic invasions in the 7th century.

The western fortress walls of Tsarevets
The Patriarchal Church of the Tsarevets Fortress

In the 9th century, an early Bulgarian settlement emerged, which expanded during the First Bulgarian Empire. In the 12th century, the construction of the Tsarevets Fortress began, and much of it remains preserved today. The fortress has three entrances, with the main gate located in the westernmost part of the hill. At the center lies the Royal Palace Complex, a group of buildings surrounded by an inner stone wall, two defensive towers, and two entrances (north and south). It includes a Throne Hall, a Palace Church, and the royal residences.

The restoration of the Tsarevets Fortress began in 1930 and was completed in 1981 in honor of the 1300th anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian state. The fortress was home to rulers such as Tsar Petar, Asen, Kaloyan, and Ivan Asen II.