Veliko Tarnovo General Information
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most ancient Bulgarian towns. The picturesque situation and panoramic view of the town, its rich cultural and historical heritage wins Veliko Tarnovo the recognition as a historical, cultural and tourist center of contemporary Bulgaria. Veliko Tarnovo borders Targovishte, Rousse, Pleven, Lovech, Gabrovo, Stara Zagora and Sliven districts. It also has access to Danube River through its north border. The district, located in the middle of North Bulgaria, has 2 European transport corridors passing through it: number 7 (Danube River) and number 9 (Russia – Moldova – Romania – Rousse – Veliko Turnovo – Stara Zagora – Haskovo – Greece/Turkey. Rousse port is the biggest Bulgarian port on Danube River.

The town was founded of the foot of the Northern Fore - Balkan Range. Historians date it back to the 4th millennium BC. The town of Veliko Tarnovo had inherited centuries-old Prehistoric, Thracian and Antique culture and in 1185 it became a center of the Bulgarian Uprising against Byzantine domination and the capital of the restored Bulgarian state. The medieval town of Tarnovo was rapidly expanding and developed into the strongest Bulgarian fortress during the 12-14th centuries. It became the most significant political, economic, cultural and religious centre of Bulgaria. The Tarnovo Schools of Literature and Arts were established and developed here. Remarkable architectural monuments were created; miniature and monumental painting, literature; plastic arts and crafts achieved high artistic level.

During the 15th-19th centuries period Tarnovo was a symbol of the former Bulgarian state system and a stronghold of the Bulgarian national spirit, a leading centre of the struggle for cultural independence. During the Bulgarian National Revival period in the second half of the 18th and the 19th centuries the town was an important administrative, trade and industrial centre. The rapid economic boom was set as a favorable premise for a dynamic cultural and educational process. Unique monuments of the material and spiritual culture were created.

After the Liberation from Ottoman domination in 1877 until the wars in 1912 - 1913and in 1915 - 1918 as a historical capital Tarnovo played a significant role in the political, administrative and cultural formation of independent Bulgaria. In 1879 Bulgaria was restored for the second time. Then the Constituent Assembly drafted the supreme fundamental laws of the nation - the Tarnovska Constitution in the hall of the former Turkish konak (municipality building). The 1st, The 3rd, The 4th and The 5th Grand National Assemblies (in 1879, 1887, 1893 and 1911) were held in Veliko Tarnovo.

In 1990 The 7th Grand National Assembly was established in same Town Hall where the Constituent Assembly was in session in 1879. The 7th Grand National Assembly drafted the new Constitution of Bulgaria - the nation’s fundamental laws for modern democratic changes.

Modern Veliko Tarnovo is a town - museum rich in many cultural museums and monuments and architectural preserves. Every year the town is visited by thousands of tourists from Bulgaria and from abroad. It is a prime concern of the whole nation to study and preserve the numerous historical and architectural monuments, the rich museums and the museum stock. This is only one of the aspects of Veliko Tarnovo Town Council cultural policy.

Arbanasi architectural reserve is situated 4 km from Veliko Turnovo. Arbanasi is a museum of cultural heritage. Some of Arbanasi's churches, monasteries and houses are under UNESCO protection for world cultural heritage.

Tsarevets fortress (situated on a hill in the city) is one of the few Bulgarian medieval strongholds preserved today. A true carrier of cultural and historic heritage, Tsarevets is one of Bulgaria's biggest landmarks.

Veliko Tarnovo Economy
The district contributes 4.3% of Bulgaria’s GDP. The registered unemployment has been relatively high – 15%. 95% of the companies in the district are in the private sector. Industry, services and the trade sector contribute to over 90% of the revenues of the region.

Agriculture, traditionally, is a major part of the economy as in almost all other regions in Bulgaria. There are almost 42,000 ha of arable lands. The biggest sowings are wheat, barley, maize, fodder crops and vegetables. Stock breeding is also developed – there are favorable conditions for breeding of cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and goats.

Leading industrial products forming almost all of the industrial income are: production of flour, meat, dairy and sugar products, canned food; packaging materials; furniture; ceramic products; chemical products – paints, drugs; utensils; clothes; electrocars, motocars and farming machines; metal castings; home accessories; cardboard and polyethylene; cellulose; concrete products, metal cutting machines; radiators and heating devices