Arbanasi
Арбанаси
A hillside village 4 km northeast of Veliko Tarnovo, where 17th- and 18th-century stone mansions look like fortresses and the churches are covered in dense murals.
Arbanasi enjoyed special privileges during the Ottoman period, and wealthy merchants built stone mansions with high walls and thick doors. Their exteriors are plain, but their interiors are richly decorated. The most notable sights are the Konstantsaliev House and the Church of the Nativity. The Archangels Church and others can be visited with a combined ticket. The village is peaceful, and it works well as a half-day trip with lunch at a local restaurant. There are also several guesthouses. A taxi from the city centre takes about 10 minutes, or you can hike up on the footpath.
Opening hours
Sites approx. 09:00–18:00; shorter hours in winter
Nearby sights
- Church of the Nativity, Arbanasi
- Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Veliko Tarnovo
- Tsarevets Fortress
- Church of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki
- Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs
- Museum of the Revival and Constituent Assembly
- Sarafkina House
- Gurko Street