Coat of Targovishte
Geography
City of Targovishte is located north of the Preslav Mountains. Of 320 km northeast of Sofia, 41 km west of Shumen, 25 km north-west of Veliki Preslav and 100 km northeast of Veliko Turnovo. The proximity of the city to the starting points of the country Varna (110 km) and Rousse (100 km) makes it a natural strategic crossroad. Neighborhoods of the city are – Beach, Vabel (Geren), Varosha, Borovets, West 1, West 2, West 3, East Kalkovo, Malcho Malchev.
Tourist sightseeing
The cultural and historical heritage is little known, but nevertheless surprisingly rich. The region has been inhabited since hoary antiquity. Remnants of settlements from the Neolith (6 000 years B.C.) have been found. Later archeological findings give evidence for the civilization of the Thracians and the Roman. In ХVІІ century Targovishte already became centre of the most famous fair in the European part of the Ottoman Empire. The following findings are of a particular interest – the eneolithic religious prehistoric scene from the village of Ovcharovo, the Thracian golden treasure from the village of Kralevo (ІІІ century B.C.). The tourists could also visit the Byzantine basilica near the village of Draganovets, the ancient town of Misionis (Krumovo Kale). The abundance of ruins in the region of Derventa passage brings us back to Mediaeval Bulgaria and Byzantium. The old living quarter of Targovishte called Varosha is impregnated by the romance of the years of the Bulgarian National Revival.
The unique combination of natural resources and climate, historical and cultural sightseeing turns the municipality of Targovishte into an attractive destination for domestic and international tourism.
Archaeological Sightseeing:
Krumovo kale
Krumovo kale
The “Krumovo Kale” castle is situated seven kilometers away of Targovishte along the road to Omurtag. Its ancient ruins spread over more than 150 decares. The castle was erected during the time of Ustinian І in the end of the V century as a part of the defensive system of Byzantium. Its purpose was to block the Slavs, Proto-Bulgarians and Gothic attacks. The castle has been ruined before the establishment of the Bulgarian state.
In the end of ІХ century a Bulgarian settlement with dug-outs of the early Middle Ages was founded over the ruins of the castle. During ХІІ – ХІV centuries the castle wall had been rearranged and become again part of a defensive system this time of the capital Veliko Tarnovo. The castle was one of the three defending points for the Derventa passage.
From both sides of the entry gate there are two U-shaped towers. Inside there are residential buildings and a classic basilica with room for baptism. The remains of the stone walls are only 1.5 – 2 meters high, but even so they are quite impressive as they are 1 meter thick.
In the castle there is an excavated necropolis from the ХІV century. The whole field beyond the wall has been a settlement. Only the feudal ruling top has lived in the castle. .
After the latest studies of the castle, the opinion of the archaeologist Angel Konakliev (specialist from the Historical museum, Targovishte) that it is very probable that the Krumovo Kale is the famous town of Misionis has gained popularity.
Basilica in the village of Draganovets
Basilica and sanctuary of the god Apolon in the village of Draganovets
Attractive archaeological complex, consisting of a Thracian sanctuary from II-IV century, dedicated to Heros and the god Apolon, a Byzantine basilica from V-VI century and the only glaze-kiln for construction ceramics articles. It is announced for cultural monument of local importance in the Official Gazette – issue 70/31.08.1976
The Thracian sanctuary has the form of a rectangle, sized 18m/10м. The marble votive tablets, found during the excavations are dedicated mostly to Apolon, but there are also such dedicated to Zevs and Demetra. On one of the tablets the epithet AULUSADA was found to be written – an epithet used for Apolon only in the sanctuary in Draganovets.
In a later period an early-Byzantine basilica sized 20m/30m has been built over the sanctuary. A developed settlement has existed around the basilica.
In XII century, after the expansion of the small early-Byzantine settlement, over the ruins of the Thracian sanctuary, the basilica and the late-antique settlement, a Bulgarian settlement of the late Middle Ages has grown which had connections with the mediaeval Bulgarian castle “Marnata”.
Kaz Ana Teke
Kaz Ana Teke
At the eastern end of the village of Momino you can find the historical monument Kaz Ana Teke. The place is worshipped by the Muslims and is better known as Kazylbashko religious place. It is a brick building, inside of which the grave of the saint is situated. The legend says that a golden-haired girl named Zuhre (Venus), the only child in her family one evening sheltered god’s messengers. She gave them water and a towel and after they had washed she didn’t throw away the dirty water but drunk it. The water had miraculous power and made her invisible and immortal. A voice told her that if she kept her virginity she would get a power to help all people who were in trouble. In token of this promise she named herself Kaz Ana (the mother virgin). The people built a fountain where many pilgrims gather also today with hope for healing, health and luck.Architectural Sightseeing
Slavejkov school
The school “St.St. Sedmochislenitsi” (Slavejkov school)
Slavejkov schoolThe historical exhibition and the document-stock depository are placed in the building of the school ”St.St, Sedmochislenitsi”. The building is a cultural monument of national importance.
t is built in 1863 as a secular school and is unique and of a rarely big scale for Bulgaria from the era of the National revival. Petko R. Slavejkov has taught there. This is why the citizens of Targovishte remember the school as the Slavejkov school. The fund of the Historical museum is kept here, which comprises 30 000 museum articles and the scientific library.
Houses and buildings
Hadji Angelova house
Address: 14, Rakovski Str.
Hadji Angelova house is an architectural monument of local importance from the XIXth century, where the ethnographical exhibition of the Historical Museum of Tragovishte is placed.
It is built in 1863 by masters from Triavna and is a sample of a symmetric house from the period of the Bulgarian National Revival with wood-carved decoration and architectural details modern for that time – French –fashion, stone stove.
Zaharieva house
Address: 2, Mitropolit Andrej Blvd.
Zaharieva house is a cultural monument of local importance. Currently it functions as an administrative building of the Historical Museum, Targovishte.
Sveshtarova house
Address: 2, Rakovski Str.
Sveshtarova house is a cultural monument of local importance. It was built in 1860. It is placed in the immediate proximity of other three architectural and cultural monuments, namely the “St.St. Sedmochislenitsi” school, Zaharieva house and Hadji Angelova house.
The School “Hadji Russi”
Address: 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.
The archaeological exhibition of the Historical museum is placed here. It covers the chronological period from the VII-th millennium B.C. to the XIV-th century. The Neolithic, the Heliolithic, the Bronze Age, the Antiquity and the Middle Ages are presented.
The exhibits are placed in seven halls with total area of 354 sq. m. Amongst them there are some unique exponents with no analogue, such as for example the famous religious scene from the village of Ovcharovo, the gold-plated ceramic urn from the village of Kralevo (III century B.C.), the combined silver surgery instrument from Ljublen (II century) and others.
Kassarova house
The Kassarova house is built by Hadji Michail Hadjirussev in the beginning of the 70-ies of the XIX century.The house of the Architectural Union
Address: 13, “Ekzarh Josif” Str.
It is a monument of local importance. It is placed in immediate proximity to the church “The Assumption”. Through “komshulutsi” it is connected with the two neigbouring houses (architectural and cultural monuments) built in the period of the Bulgarian National Revival.
The house-museum “Nikola Simov- Kuroto”
This is house where the famous Bulgarian revolutionary Nikola Simov-Kureto was born. He was the standard-bearer of the Botev detachment. The exhibition gives evidences of his life and destiny, as well as of the struggle for national liberation of the population of the region of Targovishte during the period of the Bulgarian National revival.Targovishte
9, “Ekzarh Josif” Str.The house-museum “Stephan Kucarov”
There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life of early perished artist- anti-fascist
as well as a hall with art pieces of the painter.The house-museum “Nikola Marinov”
This is the house where the artist Nikola Marinov was born. It is situated in the old part of the town – “Varosha” close to the centre of Targovishte. Together with the restored and preserved houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period it is an undividable part of the preserved atmosphere of Eski-Jumaia.
The building of Hebros Bank
The building was opened on 19 November 1915. It used to be the premise of the Bulgarian Agricultural Bank.
The building of Bank DSK
The building was opened on 1 January 1931. It used to be the premise of the Popular Bank branch in Targovishte.
Churches and mosques
“The Assumption” church
The church is a cultural monument of a national importanceIt was built in 1851 by the famous masters Usta Dimitar Sergiuv and Gencho Novakov from the town of Triavna. Its architecture is characterized by the Bulgarian-styled construction with dome. It is pointed as one of the most beautiful church buildings from the period of the Bulgarian National Revival on the territory of the whole country. In the church there is a collection of icons from the middle of ХІХ century, church plate, and fragments from the old iconostasis from the period of the National revival.
Targovishte
Ekzarh Josif Str.The church “St. Ivan Rilski”
It was built in 1937. It is situated in the central part of the town of Targovishte. It disposes of a unique wood-carved iconostasis made by prof. Petar Kushlev (1961). The New York bishop Andrey (1886-1972) is buried in the church – he was one of the biggest sponsors of the town of Targovishte.
Targovishte
Tsar Simeon Str.
The Mosque in the town of Targovishte
The Muslim temple was built in the XVIII century. It is situated in the central part of the district centre Targovishte and has the status of a monument of a local importance. It is visited by a great number of Bulgarian and foreign tourists. Inside there are typical mural paintings. The inner part of the walls of the pray hall are masterly covered with Arab texts from the Koran as well as with stylized plant and geometric ornaments.
2 ”Veliko Tarnovo” Str.
Natural attractions
“Parka” area
“Parka” area
Recreational zone to the south of the town
The “Parka” area is situated 7 km to the south of the town, next to the entry of the Targovishte passage. Its beautiful nature, the mineral spring and the comfortable first-rate road from Sofia to Varna attract both citizens and guests of the town. Sanatorium- tourist complex is built based on the healing properties of the mineral water.
Some of the interesting landmarks in the area are as follows: “Koniat” – uniquely figure resembling a horse formed on the almost vertical eastern slope of Lale Balkan, the natural phenomena “Vodopada”, the cave “Marinina dupka”. The Krumovo Kale castle is also situated here. All these sights are located in the picturesque gorge of the river Vrana. In the recreational zone the tourists could find plenty of lilac-shrub as well as the rare Urumovo tulip.
The lake “Borovo oko”
The lake “Borovo oko”
The beautiful lake “Borovo oko” is of interest to the guests of the town and could be used as a pleasant recreational site. Next to it the restaurant “Borovo oko” is placed. Nearby you could also find the Art Gallery “Nikola Marinov” and the house-museum “Stephan Kutsarov”.
Other attractions
Natural landmark “Vodopada” and natural landmark “Koniat”
They are situated in the “Parka” area (7 km away from Targovishte), which was formed by the bed of the Vrana river, picturesquely cutting through the slopes of the Preslav mountain (a massif in the Eastern Stara Planina mountain).
“Koniat” is a rock formation, which reminds the figure of a horse, and “Vodopada” is a small waterfall, formed by a small underground feeder of the river Vrana, going out on the rock.
Protected area Iglikina meadow
It is situated in the “Kajraka” area and covers territory of 8,3 hectares. It is announced as a protected area of the natural deposit of healing primrose – a plant with restricted use regime. Due to its beautiful nature, the closeness of the town of Targoviste and the natural combination of the protected area with the broad-leaved forest around, the area Iglikana meadow is visit all year round from non-organized tourists.
Natural landmark Derventska cave
It is situated on the slopes of the Preslav mountain in the Prolazki passage –village of Prolaz. The cave is one of the very few in the region and is famous besides for its size and richness of eccentric formations but also for the curves of its lakes with cave pearls inside and the massive stalagmites, covered by red-brown up to pink and white crystals.
The fauna in the cave is represented by dozens bats.
Protected area “Petka Balkan”
It is announced as a protected area so that to preserve a century-old forest situated over 5.4 hectares in the “Babakondu” area close to the village of Bratovo.
The protected area is connected to historical events from the ХVI century and is included in legends about the convert to Mohammedanism of the local population. In nowadays celebrations and fairs are organized here by the locals.
Protected area “Urumovo lale”
Urumovo tulipIt is situated on a steep stony, limy slope near the village of Pajdushklo. The natural deposit of the plant Urumovo tulip spread over 12.0 hectares is under protection and there you could find all the three types of that tulip – yellow, variegated and red. The last type is represented by rare specimens. The plant, Bulgarian endemit, is threatened with extinction and is included in the “Red Book” of Bulgaria.
Idirizova grove
The Idirizova grove is a group of seventeen century-old oaks with average age of 150 years, remains from an oak grove near the village of Dalgach, Targovishte municipality. Also there the “Four Oaks” could be found which present four century-old oaks of an approximate age of 300 years.
Tourism
The municipality of Targovishte could be regarded as a territorial unit connecting the famous Black Sea tourist zone and Tarnovo-Gabrovo tourist region. The basic tourist itinerary of the country, namely Sofia – Veliko Tarnovo – Varna crosses the cited territory.
The rich cultural, historical and natural heritage of the municipality of Targovishte, combined with its geographic position creates serious potential for the development of the tourism as a key economic centre.
Targovishte attracts with its residential quarter “Varosha” built in the period of the National Revival, where one could visit “The Assumption” church (1851), the Slavejkov school (currently the Historical museum – 1863), Hadji Angelova house (Etnographic exposition), the house of Hadji Roussi (Archaeological exposition). Other places of interest are the houses of the famous persons from Targovishte: standard-bearer of Botev detachment – Nikola Simov-Kuruto, the artists – prof. Nikola Marinov and Stephan Kutsarov.
The beautiful lake “Borovo Oko” is a pleasant place for recreation. Next to it the restaurant “Borovo Oko” is situated. In the nearness you can also find the art gallery “Nikola Marinov” and the house-museum “Nikola Marinov”.
A natural forest park, called by the locals “Parka”, is situated 7 kilometers to the south of the town next to the Targovishte passage. Its beautiful nature, the mineral spring and the comfortable first-rate road from Sofia to Varna attract both citizens and guests of the town. Sanatorium- tourist complex is built based on the healing properties of the mineral water.
Some of the interesting landmarks in the area are as follows: “Koniat” – uniquely figure resembling a horse formed on the almost vertical eastern slope of Lale Balkan, the natural phenomena “Vodopada”, the cave “Marinina dupka”. The Krumovo Kale castle is also situated here. All these sights are located in the picturesque gorge of the river Vrana. In the recreational zone the tourists could find plenty of lilac-shrub as well as the rare Urumovo tulip.
The surroundings of Targovishte reveal the wine traditions of the region. The vineyard massifs of the wine sort Muscat near the village of Kralevo and the winery in the village of Nadarevo are of a tourist interest – in the latter you could taste selected wines from Targovishte.
The region has favourable natural and climate conditions and offers attractive possibilities for development of tourism in all its forms – cultural, historical, ecological, balneo-therapeutical, fishing, hunting, rural, child, congress and business tourism.
In a distance of only 100 km away from Targovishte you can find unique sights from the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage, such as Veliki Preslav, Pliska, Zheravna, Kotel, Elena, Svestari, and Isperih.
