Last night our vessel, The Viking Embla, crossed the Danube from Giurgu, Romania to Rousse, Bulgaria. In the morning we left port on a motor coach and drove a couple of hours to Bulgaria's former capital, Veliko Tarnovo where we spent most of the morning. We had lunch at the historic village of Arbanassi, a few miles away and toured this historic village before returning to Veliko Tarnova where we spent the rest of the afternoon . Bulgaria was a pleasant surprise-beautiful countryside with vast tracts of agricultural land, welcoming people and impressive ancient architecture. At lunch, Bulgarian folk dancers abducted Georgia and she danced with them in a hilarious display. In the late afternoon we returned to the Viking Embla where we enjoyed a good dinner together.
Ancient Chimney, ArbanassiCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:30 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
The Bulgarian countryside betweem Arbanassi and Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:32 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
A Bulgar Warrior from days of yoreCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:35 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Bulgarian countryside near Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:36 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Like the Russians, Bulgarians use cyrillic scriptCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:37 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
A nicely restored facade in Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:45 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Worn old shophouses, Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:46 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Tsarevets Hill at Veliko Tarnovo - the Royal Premises of the Old Bulgarian Capital
Tsarevets Castle in the Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo is a medieval fortress complex and was the centre of the Second Bulgarian Empire, which ruled the region from the 12th to 14th centuries AD. First constructed on the site of an earlier Byzantine fort, by the late 12th century Tsarevets Castle had become the headquarters of the Bulgarian forces, who overthrew Byzantine rule in the region. For the next two centuries, Tsarevets Castle housed the royal palaces and administration of the new regime. However, by the late 14th century the continued rise of the Ottoman Empire put increasing pressure on the Bulgarian forces, and, along with the region as a whole, Tsarevets Castle was captured by the Ottoman army. For much of the medieval period Tsarevets Castle continued to flourish as a centre of religion, trade and administration. In the 20th century significant restoration projects were undertaken at Tsarevets Castle, including the restoration of the Patriarch’s Palace and Baldwin’s Tower.
Capture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:49 AM•Views: 15
No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
The Fortress on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko Tarnovo
The inescapable symbol of this proud medieval town, this reconstructed fortress dominates the skyline, and is one of Bulgaria’s most beloved monuments. It features remains of more than 400 houses, 18 churches and numerous monasteries, dwellings, shops, gates and towers.
Capture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:49 AM•Views: 16
No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
The Fortress on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko Tarnovo
Tsarevets Museum-Reserve is located on Tsarevets Hill, which has been settled since time immemorial due to its strategic location. Thracians and Romans used it as a defensive position, but the Byzantines built the first significant fortress here between the 5th and 7th centuries. The fortress was rebuilt and fortified by the Slavs and Bulgars between the 8th and 10th centuries, and again by the Byzantines in the early 12th century. When Târnovgrad became the Second Bulgarian Empire’s capital, the fortress was truly magnificent, but with the Turkish invasion in 1393, it was sacked and destroyed. Tourists can thank the communists for returning it to a semblance of its former glory (although some archaeologists grumble about the faithfulness of the restoration).
Capture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:51 AM•Views: 15
No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
The Fortress on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:51 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Watchtower and church-part of the fortress complex on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:51 AM•Views: 16No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Fortress walls on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:52 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Restored watchtower and ramparts on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:52 AM•Views: 16No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
Fortress walls on Tsarevets Hill at Veliko TarnovoCapture Date: Oct 6, 2013 07:52 AM•Views: 15No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
|
No comments yet...
All fields are required, fill in the form.
Comment successfully added.
Comment