#Kilifarevo Monastery

[allthingseurope]

Kilifarevo Monastery, Bulgaria (by Stoyan Velikov)

[archaeologyinbulgaria]

162-Year-Old Church with Valuable Original Iconostasis Gets Fully Renovated in Bulgaria’s Plakovo

162-Year-Old Church with Valuable Original Iconostasis Gets Fully Renovated in Bulgaria’s Plakovo

The 1847 church in Bulgaria’s Plakovo has been reopened after decades of dilapidation under the former communist regime and 13 years of renovation and restoration. Photo: BGNES

A 162-year-old church with an original iconostasis built back when Bulgaria was still part of the Ottoman Empire has been completely renovated, and literally reborn, in the town of Plakovo, Veliko Tarnovo District, as a…

[egetravel]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[culturetravels]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[banskoholiday]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[staristan]

Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo

As the capital of the new lyliberated Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo ban e the centre of the Bulgarian culture. The city witnessed the great cultural advance of the Bulgarian people in the 13th and 14th centuries. Aschool of painting came into being here, the influence of which was felt all over the Bulgarian lands, The Monastery of Kilifarevo about 20 km. from Turnovo, was an important centre of scholarship in the 14th century, the scholars trained here being remarkable for that day. Turnovo witnessed the people’s struggles against foreign invaders, and against their own masters, the feudal lords.

Amid the storms of feudal internecine wars, which shook the state to its foundations and exhausted the people’s forces, Turnovo opened its gates to the Bulgarian peasants who rebelled in the 13th century, and saw Ivailo, the people’s hero and leader of this big peasant revolt, take his seat on the hereditary throne of the Bulgarian kings. Turnovo was the last city to resist the Ottoman conquerors at the end of the 14th century, and perished in fire and flames together with the Bulgarian kingdom, putting an end to a chapter in the history of the Bulgarian people, ard ushering in the history of its five centuries of bondage.

Little has come down to us of royal Turnovo’s glorious past private tours istanbul. Mich hes also baen destroyed by time. Until quite recently only the ruins of the walls of Tsarevets and three churches in the old city were known of the old Turnovo: St. Dimiter, where the revolt was proclaimed, the Church of the Forty Martyrs, built by Ivan Assen II in 1230 to commemorate the Bulgarians’ great victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa, and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul built in the 14th century, which suffered severely in the earthquake in 1913. This earthquake did not spare the only three 14th century houses, preserved up to that time, one of which, in particular, called Madame Boika’s House, was of great interest for the study of private dwellings in Medieval Bulgaria. Excavations were made on the Trapezitsa Hill in 1900, where the foundations of 17 churches were discovered.

Tsarevets Hill

Traces of plastering show that the churches were richly ornamented with murals. After a long pause, systematic excavations w^ere at last begun in recent years on the Tsarevets Hill, which have thrown fresh light on the architecture and culture of the medieval Bulgarian capital.

Tsarevets was the most inaccessible part of the town. The royal residence was here, with the natural protection afforded by the River Yantra, which surrounded it on almost all sides at the foot of the hill, and by the steep rocks, almost perpendicular in places. Up on the narrow ledge above the abyss rose stone walls with towers. The buildings which formed the royal residence were situated on several consecutive terraces. The palace gate was on the lowest of these, and was strongly protected by towers: through it one passed into a small courtyard where there were various buildings, some of which were dwellings, and a large reservoir which must have held about 100 cubic metres of water. On the next somewhat higher terrace there was a big ceremonial hall divided into three by two colonnades, and a small palace chapel. Remains of numerous columns with Attic bases and Ionian capitals show that wide use had been made of building and decorative material from the ruins of the antique city Nicopolis ad Istrum, near by.

[tripistanbul]

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Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo

As the capital of the new lyliberated Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo ban e the centre of the Bulgarian culture. The city witnessed the great cultural advance of the Bulgarian people in the 13th and 14th centuries. Aschool of painting came into being here, the influence of which was felt all over the Bulgarian lands, The Monastery of Kilifarevo about 20 km. from Turnovo, was an important centre of scholarship in the 14th century, the scholars trained here being remarkable for that day. Turnovo witnessed the people’s struggles against foreign invaders, and against their own masters, the feudal lords.

Amid the storms of feudal internecine wars, which shook the state to its foundations and exhausted the people’s forces, Turnovo opened its gates to the Bulgarian peasants who rebelled in the 13th century, and saw Ivailo, the people’s hero and leader of this big peasant revolt, take his seat on the hereditary throne of the Bulgarian kings. Turnovo was the last city to resist the Ottoman conquerors at the end of the 14th century, and perished in fire and flames together with the Bulgarian kingdom, putting an end to a chapter in the history of the Bulgarian people, ard ushering in the history of its five centuries of bondage.

Little has come down to us of royal Turnovo’s glorious past private tours istanbul. Mich hes also baen destroyed by time. Until quite recently only the ruins of the walls of Tsarevets and three churches in the old city were known of the old Turnovo: St. Dimiter, where the revolt was proclaimed, the Church of the Forty Martyrs, built by Ivan Assen II in 1230 to commemorate the Bulgarians’ great victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa, and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul built in the 14th century, which suffered severely in the earthquake in 1913. This earthquake did not spare the only three 14th century houses, preserved up to that time, one of which, in particular, called Madame Boika’s House, was of great interest for the study of private dwellings in Medieval Bulgaria. Excavations were made on the Trapezitsa Hill in 1900, where the foundations of 17 churches were discovered.

Tsarevets Hill

Traces of plastering show that the churches were richly ornamented with murals. After a long pause, systematic excavations w^ere at last begun in recent years on the Tsarevets Hill, which have thrown fresh light on the architecture and culture of the medieval Bulgarian capital.

Tsarevets was the most inaccessible part of the town. The royal residence was here, with the natural protection afforded by the River Yantra, which surrounded it on almost all sides at the foot of the hill, and by the steep rocks, almost perpendicular in places. Up on the narrow ledge above the abyss rose stone walls with towers. The buildings which formed the royal residence were situated on several consecutive terraces. The palace gate was on the lowest of these, and was strongly protected by towers: through it one passed into a small courtyard where there were various buildings, some of which were dwellings, and a large reservoir which must have held about 100 cubic metres of water. On the next somewhat higher terrace there was a big ceremonial hall divided into three by two colonnades, and a small palace chapel. Remains of numerous columns with Attic bases and Ionian capitals show that wide use had been made of building and decorative material from the ruins of the antique city Nicopolis ad Istrum, near by.

[religionistanbul]

Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo

As the capital of the new lyliberated Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo ban e the centre of the Bulgarian culture. The city witnessed the great cultural advance of the Bulgarian people in the 13th and 14th centuries. Aschool of painting came into being here, the influence of which was felt all over the Bulgarian lands, The Monastery of Kilifarevo about 20 km. from Turnovo, was an important centre of scholarship in the 14th century, the scholars trained here being remarkable for that day. Turnovo witnessed the people’s struggles against foreign invaders, and against their own masters, the feudal lords.

Amid the storms of feudal internecine wars, which shook the state to its foundations and exhausted the people’s forces, Turnovo opened its gates to the Bulgarian peasants who rebelled in the 13th century, and saw Ivailo, the people’s hero and leader of this big peasant revolt, take his seat on the hereditary throne of the Bulgarian kings. Turnovo was the last city to resist the Ottoman conquerors at the end of the 14th century, and perished in fire and flames together with the Bulgarian kingdom, putting an end to a chapter in the history of the Bulgarian people, ard ushering in the history of its five centuries of bondage.

Little has come down to us of royal Turnovo’s glorious past private tours istanbul. Mich hes also baen destroyed by time. Until quite recently only the ruins of the walls of Tsarevets and three churches in the old city were known of the old Turnovo: St. Dimiter, where the revolt was proclaimed, the Church of the Forty Martyrs, built by Ivan Assen II in 1230 to commemorate the Bulgarians’ great victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa, and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul built in the 14th century, which suffered severely in the earthquake in 1913. This earthquake did not spare the only three 14th century houses, preserved up to that time, one of which, in particular, called Madame Boika’s House, was of great interest for the study of private dwellings in Medieval Bulgaria. Excavations were made on the Trapezitsa Hill in 1900, where the foundations of 17 churches were discovered.

Tsarevets Hill

Traces of plastering show that the churches were richly ornamented with murals. After a long pause, systematic excavations w^ere at last begun in recent years on the Tsarevets Hill, which have thrown fresh light on the architecture and culture of the medieval Bulgarian capital.

Tsarevets was the most inaccessible part of the town. The royal residence was here, with the natural protection afforded by the River Yantra, which surrounded it on almost all sides at the foot of the hill, and by the steep rocks, almost perpendicular in places. Up on the narrow ledge above the abyss rose stone walls with towers. The buildings which formed the royal residence were situated on several consecutive terraces. The palace gate was on the lowest of these, and was strongly protected by towers: through it one passed into a small courtyard where there were various buildings, some of which were dwellings, and a large reservoir which must have held about 100 cubic metres of water. On the next somewhat higher terrace there was a big ceremonial hall divided into three by two colonnades, and a small palace chapel. Remains of numerous columns with Attic bases and Ionian capitals show that wide use had been made of building and decorative material from the ruins of the antique city Nicopolis ad Istrum, near by.

[bookingtripsbg]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[xtours]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[travelsyhe]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[privatetourbg]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[istanbulgaybars]

Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo

As the capital of the new lyliberated Bulgarian kingdom Turnovo ban e the centre of the Bulgarian culture. The city witnessed the great cultural advance of the Bulgarian people in the 13th and 14th centuries. Aschool of painting came into being here, the influence of which was felt all over the Bulgarian lands, The Monastery of Kilifarevo about 20 km. from Turnovo, was an important centre of scholarship in the 14th century, the scholars trained here being remarkable for that day. Turnovo witnessed the people’s struggles against foreign invaders, and against their own masters, the feudal lords.

Amid the storms of feudal internecine wars, which shook the state to its foundations and exhausted the people’s forces, Turnovo opened its gates to the Bulgarian peasants who rebelled in the 13th century, and saw Ivailo, the people’s hero and leader of this big peasant revolt, take his seat on the hereditary throne of the Bulgarian kings. Turnovo was the last city to resist the Ottoman conquerors at the end of the 14th century, and perished in fire and flames together with the Bulgarian kingdom, putting an end to a chapter in the history of the Bulgarian people, ard ushering in the history of its five centuries of bondage.

Little has come down to us of royal Turnovo’s glorious past private tours istanbul. Mich hes also baen destroyed by time. Until quite recently only the ruins of the walls of Tsarevets and three churches in the old city were known of the old Turnovo: St. Dimiter, where the revolt was proclaimed, the Church of the Forty Martyrs, built by Ivan Assen II in 1230 to commemorate the Bulgarians’ great victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa, and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul built in the 14th century, which suffered severely in the earthquake in 1913. This earthquake did not spare the only three 14th century houses, preserved up to that time, one of which, in particular, called Madame Boika’s House, was of great interest for the study of private dwellings in Medieval Bulgaria. Excavations were made on the Trapezitsa Hill in 1900, where the foundations of 17 churches were discovered.

Tsarevets Hill

Traces of plastering show that the churches were richly ornamented with murals. After a long pause, systematic excavations w^ere at last begun in recent years on the Tsarevets Hill, which have thrown fresh light on the architecture and culture of the medieval Bulgarian capital.

Tsarevets was the most inaccessible part of the town. The royal residence was here, with the natural protection afforded by the River Yantra, which surrounded it on almost all sides at the foot of the hill, and by the steep rocks, almost perpendicular in places. Up on the narrow ledge above the abyss rose stone walls with towers. The buildings which formed the royal residence were situated on several consecutive terraces. The palace gate was on the lowest of these, and was strongly protected by towers: through it one passed into a small courtyard where there were various buildings, some of which were dwellings, and a large reservoir which must have held about 100 cubic metres of water. On the next somewhat higher terrace there was a big ceremonial hall divided into three by two colonnades, and a small palace chapel. Remains of numerous columns with Attic bases and Ionian capitals show that wide use had been made of building and decorative material from the ruins of the antique city Nicopolis ad Istrum, near by.

[melniktravel]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[holidaysbalkan]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.

[mystictour]

Gorna Oryahovitsa

Some ten kilometres to the left a road leads to Gorna Oryahovitsa (pop. 39,000) — the largest railway junction of North Bulgaria. It was a craft and trade centre during Ottoman rule. After the Liberation it developed as a railway station following the construction of the Varna-Sofia line. Hotels: Raho- vets, two stars, 5 floors, 3 suites and 146 beds, restaurant, night club, national tavern, cafe (tel. 4-16-30).

Return to E-85 and enter the picturesque Derventa Gorge, where, facing each other on the rocks, are the Tiansfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery.

The Transfiguration Monastery is 6 km north of Veliko lumovo. The ruins of the old mediaeval monastery are some half a kilometre in the woods, south of the present-day monastery. It was probably founded during the reign of Ivan Shishrnan, in the 1570s. It fell into oblivion for several centuries, after repeated plundering. The frescoes were painted by Zahari Zograph of the Samokov school of painting. He painted the whole church and icons from 1849 to 1851. Interesting from an ethnographic point of view is the Doomsday fresco painted on the eastern side of the vestibule. Also remarkable is the Wheel of Life fresco on the outside southern altar wall, showing human life from a philosophical point of view.

In 1838 the Tryavna master-engravers made a magnificent iconostasis which is one of the masterpieces of the Tryavna school of wood-carving. They also made the iconostasis in the small Anunciation Church. The large monastery library holds valuable incunabula, historical documents, etc.

The Holy Trinity Monastery is situated among rocks op posite the Transfiguration Monastery, on the steep banks of the River Yantra. It is supposed to have been founded by Patriarch Euthimius. Several prominent literary figures worked there.

Veliko Turnovo

Veliko Turnovo (pop. 63,500; is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful towns. It was capital of the Second Bulgarian State from 1187 to 1396. There was a Byzantine fortress on the Tsarevets hill in the 5th-6th century, built by Justinian, which was captured by the Slavs in the 7th century sofia sightseeing. In 1185 Turnovo was the centre of a nationwide uprising led by the brothers Assen and Peter. The uprising was successful^eter was declared Tsar and Tumovo capital of the new Bulgarian state, which lasted for two centuries until Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. The town maintained lively commercial links with Dubrovnik, Genoa and Venice. It became one of the largest literary centres of its time. Magnificent works were written here, some of which are still presented — Manasses9 Chronicle (in the Vatican library) and Tsar Ivan Alexander’s Tetraevan- gelia (in British Museum, London). In 1350 Theodosius of l umovo founded Kilifarevo Monastery near Turnovo which was a literary school.

Students from all over the country, from Russia, Wallachia and Serbia, studied here; Patriarch Euthimius was among them. He founded a second literary school in the Holy Trinity Monastery, known as the Turnovo School. His disciples, Grigorii Tsamblak and Konstantin Kostenechki, continued their teachings in Wallachia, Serbia and Russia. On July 17, 1393, after a three-month siege, 1 urnovgrad fell under Ottoman domination. The capital was burnt, destroyed and plundered, but the spirit of people remained alive and many uprisings broke out in the 16th, l7th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century the town was a major craft centre. A Bulgarian men’s school was opened followed by a girl’s school in 1845. In 1835 the town was the centre of an uprising, known as the Velcho conspiracy. In 1870 Vassil Levski founded the Turno- vo revolutionary committee. During the Uprising of April 1876 Tumovo was the centre of the First Revolutionary District. Troops led by General I.V.Gurko liberated the town on June 25, 1877.