Full-Day Tour to Veliko Tarnovo Reserve of Bozhentsi and Etar from Sofia

Discover the medieval fortress Tsarevets - The upsurge of Veliko Tarnovo is related to the period of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1393). In 1185, the town was declared the capital of the restored Bulgarian State by the brothers Asen and Petar, who declared the end of the Byzantine dominion, which continued for 167 years. After its selection to be a capital, the town developed fast, as within the period 12th – 14th century it was the most unconquerable Bulgarian fortress, as well as the cultural and intellectual center of Bulgaria.

Architectural Reserve Bozhentsi - The village was proclaimed an architectural and historical reserve in 1964 and is part of UNESCO’s cultural monuments. The National Revival architecture has been preserved in the village and due to this, it is forbidden any construction of buildings that do not fit the village’s style.

Architectural and Ethnographic Complex Etar - You will discover the only collection in Bulgaria of technical installations driven by water–filling mills, water mills, grindstones, etc., which is situated there. 16 houses can be seen on the crafts bazaar (the central commercial street) in the Etar, which are exact copies of buildings existing in the past in Gabrovo and the region. On the crafts street, the visitors can watch in real-time the work of the craftsmen. Multiple crafts are presented there – bell-making (manufacturing of wrought bells for animals), pottery-making, sugar-making (manufacturing of sugar articles), furriery, manufacturing of copper vessels, etc.