Targovishte

The name tells the story: Targovishte means marketplace, and for centuries the town was known for one of the largest trade fairs in the Balkans. A trip to Targovishte takes you to a small, little-visited province between the Eastern Balkan Mountains and the Ludogorie, with Bulgarian National Revival-era lanes, a rock monastery, and late Roman fortresses.

Targovishte and the Varosh Quarter

Known under its Ottoman name Eski Cuma, the town was a meeting point for merchants from across the empire; the fair took place every spring and drew traders from Vienna as well as from Anatolia. In the old Varosh quarter, you'll find preserved houses with wooden verandas, churches, and a 19th-century school where the poet and teacher Petko Slaveykov once taught. In Borovete city park, locals stroll beneath pine trees. Today Targovishte is an industrial center, best known for a large glassworks.

Sights in the Province

A few kilometers east of the town lies the archaeological site of Missionis, a late Roman and early medieval fortress above the Vrana valley. In the north, near Opaka, the Krepcha Rock Monastery is tucked away in the forest; an inscription dated 921 was found here, one of the oldest dated Cyrillic inscriptions anywhere. Popovo lies in the wide agricultural landscape of the Ludogorie, while Omurtag in the southwest sits among the wooded hills of the Pre-Balkan, with reservoirs and villages where many Turkish-speaking Bulgarians live. Day-trippers will find picnic spots and hiking trails in the forests around Omurtag. In the villages of the region, traditional customs are still alive, such as kukeri processions at New Year and village festivals with brass bands and roast lamb.

Cuisine, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

On the table you'll find dishes made with lamb and beans, yogurt, banitsa, and wine from the nearby area around Veliki Preslav. Targovishte lies on the road between Shumen and Veliko Tarnovo, and Varna is just under two hours away by car. The best time to visit is April through October, when hikes in the Preslav Balkan south of the town are also possible. Accommodations are found mainly in the provincial capital; in the villages, a few guesthouses offer rooms and home-cooked meals.