Tsarevets Hill (Veliko Tarnovo)

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The hill was first settled as early as the 3rd millennium BC. In the 5th and 6th centuries it housed the largest city of the Bysantine Empire in the province of Moesia Inferior - Zikideva.

In the 9th century a Bulgar settlement was founded there, which grew rapidly. The construction of the defensive wall, which still stands today, started in the 12th century. The wall was 1,100 meters long, up to 3.40 meters thick at certain places and over 10 meters high.

In 1185 when Tarnovo was declared the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire Tsarevets became its principal fortification and home of its aristocracy. For more than 200 years the city bustled with political, economic and cultural activity and was one of the largest cities of Southeast Europe, while the fortress was the most important one in Bulgaria.

The Tsarevets hill in Tarnovo, atop which is located the like-named fortress, which included the imperial and patriarchal palaces of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The name reflects the medieval epithet of the city, Tsarevgrad ("emperor's city") Tarnov.

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