Bulgarian history will take you back dozens of centuries to Pliska, Preslav and Veliko Tarnovo - the seats of the first Bulgarian khans, czars and kings; to the Madara Horseman carved in a rock; to the Thracian Gold Treasure; to the breathtaking murals of the Kazanlak Tomb and the church in Boyana; to the quiet wisdom of the Rila Monastery and to the towns of Koprivshtitsa, Melnick and Zheravna - Renaissance legends of wood, stone and color.

Our lands are ancient crossroads. They remember many ancient civilizations: The Thracians bequeathed us the famous tombs near Kazanluk and Sveshtari, the unique gold treasures from Panagyurishte and Rogozen. The Hellenes built the beautiful coastal towns of Apollonia, Anhialo and Messambria, and the Romans - ancient Aescus, Nikopolis ad Istrum and Nove. Huns, Gothes and Averas later passed through our lands. Around the mid-7th century the Slavs came from the north across the Danube and reached as far as the Black Sea and the Adriatic. They were followed by the Bulgarians of Khan Asparouh...

In fact, there were only three states in Europe in 681:

• The Western Roman Empire
• BULGARIA
• The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium)

OLD CAPITALS

Pliska
This is the Slavic name the Proto-Bulgarians gave to the first capital of their new state.
Reviving the traditions of their predecessors they erected a monumental and austere looking city.
Remains of the most impressive buildings have survived until nowadays: the Large Basilica, the palaces and the Throne Room from the second half of the 9-th century. 
Pliska today is a National Archaeological Reserve.

Veliki Preslav
Built nearly three decades ago by Tsar Simeon, the second Bulgarian capital was designed to correspond to the prosperity and upsurge of the Bulgarian state, the conversion to Christianity, the creation of the Slav script and culture. 
The city is surrounded by two fortress walls like Pliska. 
The splendour and ornate decorations of the inner city housing the palace complex and the famous Golden Church demonstrated the power and confidence of the Bulgarian rulers.
The nearby PATLEINA MONASTERY, part of the Veliki Preslav National Archaeological Reserve, was a center for writers of the famous Preslav school of literature and the place where the unique painted 'Preslav ceramics' were crafted.

Veliko Turnovo
is the capital city of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 - 1393).
If you happen to visit this unusual city full of stone houses looking as if they had perched one above the other on the steep bank of the Yantra river, you should first go to Tsarevets - the place of the patriarchal church and royal palaces, the hill where Baudouin's Tower still rises linked with the legend of the Latin Emperor Baudouin of Flanders who was captured by Tsar Kaloyan.
Then you will be taken to another hill called Trapezitsa - where the foundations of 17 medieval churches were discovered.
You will marvel and enthuse over the Bulgarian National Revival period architectural ensembles on Gurko Street, the old Nikoli Inn and the St. St. Constantine and Helena Church.
The original SAMOVODENE MARKET has been brought back to life and as in ancient times skillful craftsmen fashion and sell exquisite objects in the small restored workshops.
At night proud Tsarevets lends the natural decor to a fantastic SOUND AND LIGHT spectacle.