Bulgarian Historical Mountain: Tsarevets Hill

Leaving Sofia, a journey of more than 220 kilometers takes you to one of the three ancient capitals of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. The road conditions are good, with lush vegetation along the way, and the verdant lawns present a pleasant sense of relaxation under the sunlight. The roadsides are lined with blooming acacia flowers, occasionally interspersed with rapeseed flowers. The gas stations along the road are very clean, and the restrooms are free of charge. About 25 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo, we were delayed a bit due to road construction limiting the speed to 40 kilometers per hour, but we arrived in two and a half hours. The first stop is the historical mountain, Tsarevets Hill, which is now a symbol of Veliko Tarnovo. It is about 1 kilometer from the city center to Tsarevets Hill, just across the bridge. The whole experience, including photography, takes about 2 hours. The hill still retains family churches, fortresses, and the Baldwin Emperor's Tower. 💥Points of interest: 1⃣Ancient capital ruins: At the end of the 12th century, the Bulgarian nobles, the Asen brothers, organized forces in Tarnovo to break away from the rule of the Byzantine Empire and establish a new kingdom, making it their capital. Therefore, this place is not only one of the three ancient capitals of Bulgaria but was also the capital of Bulgaria. The ancient capital spans across Tsarevets Hill and Trapezitsa Hill. From the bottom of the hill, Tsarevets Hill is strategically located with walls on all sides, and the Yantra River meanders quietly below. Along the way, we mostly see the remnants of walls and later restored gates, etc. The palaces, imperial tombs, and 18 large churches recorded in books are no longer visible. The surrounding environment is still nice, and it's good for taking photos on a clear day, with a sense of historical vicissitudes. 2⃣Family fortress church: This church is the later-built Ascension Cathedral, located at the top of the hill. Admission is free, and the modernist frescoes on the dome and walls are quite exquisite and worth seeing. 3⃣Baldwin Emperor's Tower: There is a fee of 7 leva to climb to the top of the tower, and there doesn't seem to be much to see inside, some of which I also don't understand, so it's fine to just look at the exterior. 📷When we were descending the hill, we happened to meet a local photography team shooting a historical documentary at the entrance. In addition to chatting, we also got to play with their DJI drone with a camera lens, which was a rare experience. 🕹Address: 353m·ul.Stefan Stambolov, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria 🚪Ticket price: 6 leva ⏱️Opening hours: April to September 8:00-19:00; October to March 9:00-17:00