Veliko Tarnovo
Being one of the strongholds of the Second Bulgarian Empire, Tarnovo and its adjoining area display large masses of historical artifacts to be explored. The most ancient settlements of the region date back to Neolithic times, a most remarkable example being the 3000 BC dwellings on Trapezitsa Hill. During the Medieval Period, Veliko Tarnovo served as a major cultural and religious hub, having exerted tremendous political influence upon the politics of the time. However, with the Ottoman invasion, the province marked a slight decline and its efforts remained vastly geared towards the preservation of Bulgarian cultural identity. While opposing the Ottoman cultural-assimilation advances, Tarnovo lost many of its prominent men. The territory became the grounds for two important uprisings, in the 16th and 17th Centuries, but remained under Turkish rule until the Russo-Turkish War in 1878.