Veliko Turnovo is the old capital of Bulgaria and is a city of two halves. The old half is full of traditional Bulgarian houses built up the side of the River Yantra. The remains of the fortress built in the bend of the river is well worth a visit. There are many museums including the archaeological museum.

In the modern part of Veliko is a large shopping mall. This has a cinema, most of the films are in English, a bowling alley, pool tables and excellent shopping especially if you want electrical goods.

The town itself has bars and cafes and plenty of night life as it is a university town.

Dryanovo is the nearest town. There are plenty of shops (food) and some cafes. Not far away is the Dryanovo monastery and the Bacho Kiro cave. This is a beautiful place to go walking and it has its own eco trail.

Gabrovo is the principal town for the area and is about the same distance away as Veliko Turnovo. Not far from Gabrovo is the small skiing resort of Uzana. This is a beautiful place to visit all year round and is the geographical centre of Bulgaria. We have not found it yet but hope to do more exploring soon.

The Shipka Pass is a must. The views are amazing and the journey there takes you on one of the one high roads through Bulgaria. The road winds up the side of the mountain and you share this with the hundreds of HGVs negotiating the 180^o turns!

The Etar village museum is a working museum of life in the past. You can watch craftsmen making silver jewellery, wooden toys and leather work to name a few.

Use some of the following links to find out about the area.

Veliko Turnovo

Dryanovo tourist website

Uzana

Gabrovo and region

GABROVO VisitToBulgaria.com