Description of the attraction
Veliko Tarnovo is a city located in northern Bulgaria on the banks of the Yantra River, one of the most ancient settlements in the country. The city has a very rich history, for the first time a settlement was formed here in the 4-3 century BC, and in the era of the Second Kingdom there was a capital here. Many historical and architectural monuments are concentrated in Veliko Tarnovo. The historical center of the city has remained almost unchanged - the old part houses most of the Veliko Tarnovo museums. This area has an architectural originality: the buildings seem to hang over the river.
One of the most interesting and picturesque streets of the Old Town is the street named after the Russian General Gurko. Our compatriot became most famous thanks to the successful operations and victories of his detachment during the liberation war against the Turkish invaders. In 1877, on June 25, the city, then called Tarnovo, was taken by a Russian detachment under the command of Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko, almost without resistance from the Turkish soldiers. From here began the victorious march of the Russian army. Gurko's detachment marched along the street, which today bears the name of the Field Marshal, to the jubilation of the Veliko Tarnovo population.
The street is quite steep, runs along the side of a hill, many buildings are practically on the rocks, piling up on top of each other. All buildings, created in the style of the Bulgarian Renaissance, have been perfectly restored, the atmosphere of the beginning of the 19th century has been preserved here, which helps to understand what the city looked like in this era. On the street in the old buildings there is a hotel, small restaurants, shops and workshops are open on the ground floors. On the street to them. General Gurko's Sarafkin house is located, now there is a museum representing folk crafts and interiors of the 19th century.
This street is considered the most picturesque in Veliko Tarnovo: stone stairs alternate with unexpected descents and ascents of uneven pavement, pots with bright flowers on the windows, beautiful old oak doors, twisted railings and dark wood balconies near the buildings. From here, panoramic views of the Yantra River open up, and a monument dedicated to the Asenovites is also visible.
