fortress

In the Hills of Bulgaria

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May 15th 2008
Veliko Turnovo is an beautiful little slice of central Bulgaria. It's a town of about 80,000, and relatively touristy, but it really doesn't feel that way. It's actually also the original capital of Bulgaria, from the first independence from the Ottomans to the relocation of the capital to Sofia in the 20th Century. Wednesday, May 14th: Up early to get out of Sofia this morning as I hoofed i ... read more

Europe » Bulgaria » Veliko Tarnovo Province » Veliko Tarnovo

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The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, b... ... read more