TARGOVISHTE

See it on the map Bulgarian properties in city of Targovishte

Location

 

Targovishte, the capital city (population: 46 000; 170 m above sea-level) of Targovishte Province, is situated in a flat country crossed by Vrana and Siva rivers at the southern foot of the low mountain of Preslav. It covers a territory of 688 671 decares.

 

Targovishte is 339 km north-east of Sofia, 41 km west of Shumen, 25 km north-west of Veliki Preslav, 24 km north-east of Omurtag, 100 km north-east of Veliko Tarnovo, 36 km south of Razgrad, and 35 km south-east of Popovo.

 

The town's proximity to the two exit points of the country - the city of Varna and the city of Rousse makes it to a natural strategic crossing on those two routes.

 

There is a convenient road connection via the town of Kotel to the southern Bulgaria. The central road - transporting arteries cross the municipal area in 4 directions.

 

The total municipal highway network covers 282,2 km, which is partially being reconstructed under the EU PHARE Programme.

 

The Sofia - Varna railway section also passes by the town.

 

13 km away from Targovishte there is the base of Targovishte Airport. It represents a clear advantage for the municipality, but due to the lack of funds the airport facilities are practically unusable on this stage.

 

History

 

Remains of thracian settlements as well as the Old Roman ones where discovered in the vicinity of Targovishte. Also found were an early Byzantine settlement and a fortress dated back to V - VI cent. B.C. The favourable geographic location, the climatic and natural facts troughout centuries defined this region as a preferable living area which was densely populated also in the Middle Ages at the time of the 1 and 2nd Bulgarian Kingdoms.

 

The old name of the settlement - Eski Djumaya - emerges for the first time in a 1573 Ottoman tax register. From XVII on, it became an administrative centre and the place where the most popular trade fair in the European part of the Ottoman Empire used do be held. It was here where the merchandises and cultures of Austria, Germany, England, Russia, the Near East and the Arabic world got in close touch.

 

After its liberation from the Ottoman rule during the Russian-Turkish war /1877-1878/, cherishing its traditions, the town assumed European pattern of social and economic development.

 

In 1934 Eski Dzhumaya was renamed Targovishte. From 1959 on it acquired the statute of administrative centre of a district. Later on the town bacame a regional centre.

 

 

Culture

 

Targovishte is a respectful and active cultural centre. The town has hosted many traditional cultural events such as Festival of Women's and Girls' Choruses, Dramatic Festival entitled "The Big Theater In The Small Town", as well as the international festival of professional scenic performances for children "The Magic Curtain".

 

Nikola Marinov Art Gallery keeps the biggest water color collections countrywide, which includes works by Bulgarian and foreign artists. This unique collection is being enhanced on a regular basis through donations made by the international Biennial - Pleinair in water - colour painting in Targovishte.

 

The regional Petar Stapov Library is located in a modern building with 6 reading - rooms where 330 thousand volumes of literature are offered to the readers. The library also serves as a modern community and information centre equipped with a house computer network.

 

A lesson in history for Targovishte students is held in the museum house of Nikola Simov - Kuruto , the bearer of the Botev's detachment. The collections of the Historical Museum of Targovishte are kept on show in remarkable houses typical of the time of the Bulgarian National Revival in the old town of Targovishte, such as the "Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples" School, the house of Hadzhi Angel and the House of Hadzhi Russi.

 

Also unique are the two local orthodox temples - the 150-year old Assumption Church and the St. John of Rila. The latter preserves the mortal remains of Metropolit Andrey of New York - a prominent donor and benefactor of Targovishte.

 

The big building of cultural club "Napredak" is situated in the very centre of the town. There are 39 village cultural clubs on the territory of the municipality.

 

There are two theaters in Targovishte - the Dramatic Theatre with the status of open state scene, and the Puppet Theatre.

 

 

Landmarks

 

The cultural and historical heritage is little known, but nevertheless surprisingly rich. The region has been inhabited since hoary antiquity. Remnants of settlements from the Neolith (6000 years B.C.) have been found. Later archeological findings give evidence for the civilization of the Thracians and the Roman. In ХVІІ century Targovishte already became centre of the most famous fair in the European part of the Ottoman Empire. The following findings are of a particular interest - the eneolithic religious prehistoric scene from the village of Ovcharovo, the Thracian golden treasure from the village of Kralevo (III century B.C.). The tourists could also visit the Byzantine basilica near the village of Draganovets, the ancient town of Misionis (Krumovo Kale). The abundance of ruins in the region of Derventa passage brings us back to Mediaeval Bulgaria and Byzantium. The old living quarter of Targovishte called Varosha is impregnated by the romance of the years of the Bulgarian National Revival.

The unique combination of natural resources and climate, historical and cultural sightseeing turns the municipality of Targovishte into an attractive destination for domestic and international tourism.

 

The wines of Targovishte
Wine-production and vine-growing are traditional sectors in the economy of the municipality of Targovishte. The various sorts of wines of the region have won plenty of medals.

 

 

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