COUNTRY: BULGARIA WINE REGION: PLEVEN, VELIKO TARNAVO / NORTH-CENTRAL
ABOUT WINE REGION
The North-Central region of Bulgaria, part of the Danubian Plain wine region, stretches from Pleven and Veliko Tarnovo, the “City of the Tsars” to Ruse. Many mineral springs add to the authenticity of the local terroir. The city of Pleven is the heart and soul of Bulgarian wine makers. In 1902, the National Institute of Viticulture and Oenology, only the fifth of its kind in the world, was established here.
About 115 km from Pleven there is also an exciting destination named Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest towns in the country, as its history dates back more than five thousand years, as evidenced by archaeological excavations in the area. It is no accident that Veliko Tarnovo was declared a Balkan capital of cultural tourism, and that it was awarded, on a few occasions, the prize of “The Most Beautiful Town in Bulgaria”. The most significant monument of culture in Veliko Tarnovo is the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, situated on the homonymous peak and surrounded on three sides by the river Yantra.
About Destination
Some of the most interesting landmarks of Pleven are the Historical Museum, the Panorama “Pleven Epopee”, the Wine Museum in Kaylaka Park and the remains of the Storgoziya Fortress. The historical museum is housed in an impressive two-storey building, a monument of culture originally built for cantonment between 1884 and 1888 as part of an Italian project. The Wine Museum is very unique. It houses an exhibition and also offers degustation services and, uniquely, it is located inside a cave in Kaylaka Park. The museum collection contains a variety of wines aged between 30 and 90 years. Six thousand bottles of contemporary wines from all varieties and regions in the country also form part of the collection. The most significant numbers of local museums are situated in the old part of Veliko Tarnovo. Some of the most interesting of them include the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Revival and Constituent Assembly, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary History, Sarafkina House, the Museum House of P. R. Slaveykov, Stambolov Inn, the Inn of Hadzhi Nikoli, etc.
WEBSITE OF LOCALITY
HOW TO REACH
The closest airport is Gorna Oryahovitsa airport (10 km)
Pleven is located on Sofia – Varna railway, thus the trains coming from Sofia, Bucharest and Ruse, stop in Pleven.
Regular services from larger towns and cities.
Sofia to Varna via first-class road Е83.
City is well connected with buses coming from Sofia, Bucharest, Ruse, Svishtov and Silistra.
WINE CELLARS / VINEYARDS:
Wine Museum,Kailaka National Park,Ul. Totlebenov Val 1, 5800 Pleven,Tel. +359 887 731537 (www.winemuseum-bg.com)
