Veliki Preslav: Hotels and Accommodations

Veliki Preslav combines archaeological evidence and museum collections with protected natural areas.

Culture

At the Veliki Preslav National Historical and Architectural Reserve, visitors can see the remains of churches, monasteries, workshops, studios, and palaces. The Archaeological Museum displays painted ceramics, jewelry, weapons, the Preslav Treasure, a ceramic iconostasis, inscriptions, lead seals, and artifacts illustrating everyday life and agriculture.

The Veliki Preslav Archaeological Museum presents monuments associated with the pre-capital, capital, and post-capital periods of the site. The Preslav Treasure comprises more than 170 gold, silver, and bronze objects decorated with cloisonné enamel, precious stones, and pearls. These include 10th-century jewelry made in Constantinople and Preslav. The Preslav Literary School is associated with medieval literary development and the spread of the Cyrillic alphabet throughout the Slavic world.

The Kartalova Ethnographic House showcases traditional rural life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, together with elements of urban life introduced under European influence. The Petrovska Kitka folklore festival is described as a northeastern center of Bulgarian folk art.

The surviving palace complex includes the Great Palace and the West Palace. The Golden Church of Veliki Preslav was built during the reign of Tsar Simeon I. The ruler’s temple was discovered during excavations and connected to the ruler’s palace by a straight, 35-meter-long road.

Nature

The Dervisha Reserve protects Bulgaria’s only natural stand of horse chestnut trees; the Dervisha Waterfall is approximately 6 meters high. A 1-kilometer-long footpath leads from the parking area next to the Dervisha Dam to the waterfall. Before reaching the waterfall, two rivers must be crossed three times in total.

Protected wild carob trees bloom in May around the Preslav National and Archaeological Reserve and grow in the Patleyna Reserve.

The tourist information center in Veliki Preslav provides information about regional cultural and religious sites, accommodations, restaurants, and events. Those wishing to book a hotel in Veliki Preslav can continue their accommodation search afterward. The information center at the palace complex provides information about medieval Preslav, accepts advance inquiries for guided explanations, and offers souvenirs and materials about the second Bulgarian capital. Visiting Veliki Preslav is subject to an entrance fee and is possible year-round; guided tours are available.

The reserve is accessed via a repaired road; public transportation is not available. Near the temple monument to St. Cyril and St. Methodius, visitors will find a rest area and a nearby parking lot.

Other destinations include Shumen, Kaspichan, and Preselka.

For the higher-level travel overview: Shumen Province.