Regional Historical Museum-Targovishte

Targovishte and the Targovishte region have a thousand-year history and multi-layered cultural accumulations, which are inseparable from the Bulgarian historical heritage, but have specificity and uniqueness. The prototype of the town of Targovishte is the early Byzantine and medieval town of Misionis, located in the Derventa pass, 7 km from the modern town. Local legend connects it with the victory of Khan Krum over the Byzantine emperor Nicephorus. The old town is a major trade and Christian center, with a key role in the trade of early Byzantium and the Bulgarian medieval state, important for the defense of the Bulgarian capitals Veliki Preslav and Veliko Tarnovo. At the end of the 14th century, the city was ruthlessly looted, destroyed and burned by the Ottoman conquerors. At the beginning of the old Targovishte Varosh, in the expositions of the Regional Historical Museum - Targovishte, everyone can go back 8 thousand years. The archeological exposition presents the only in the world, unique cult scene from the village of Ovcharovo - evidence of the first spiritual beliefs of prehistoric man, masterpieces of Thracian art, the impressive Royal Golden Treasure, which is a golden decoration of horse harness. Finds from fortresses and necropolises (belt applications, weapons, fragments of gold-woven fabric, epigraphic monuments), as well as the finds from Misionis illustrate the Middle Ages. The Nightingale School is an amazing bearer of historical memory. Built in 1863, with the name Holy Septuagint, thanks to the donations of progressive Targovishte residents. Petko R. Slaveykov, who taught briefly in the city, defined it as "A BUILDING… THERE IS NO SECOND IN ALL OF BULGARIA". Today, the magnificent building is a diverse museum space and a key tourist site of Targovishte. There is a permanent exhibition - a reconstruction of a Revival classroom, an exhibition dedicated to the wars for national unification and liberation and a retro photo studio. The specificity and charm of the local sights lies deep in the fair tradition. The traditional spring Eskidjumai Fair gathered people from all over the Ottoman Empire and beyond. Along with the purchase and sale of goods, they exchanged ideas, experiences, spiritual values. An echo of this past are the preserved beautiful Revival houses in Varosha. The house of Hadji Angel Hadjidrumev (1863) is the most representative monument of the local Revival residential architecture from the middle of the XIX century. Here is the Ethnographic exposition of the museum, which tells about the original spirituality and way of life of the local population. Christians (Herzogs, traps and settlers - Balkans, Thracians and Shopi) and Muslims (Turks and Allies). The picture of antiquity will not be complete without temples. Central to the Varosha district is the magnificent old church "Usp. Etc. Bogoroditsi ”(1851), which was unparalleled in all of northeastern Bulgaria. The other Christian church is dedicated to "St. Ivan Rilski ”(1936). In it is buried the New York Metropolitan Andrew - a person with a worthy place in the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the 20th century. He is among the great donors of Targovishte. Not far away is the Sahat Mosque (1722) - a gift to the inhabitants of the city in gratitude for their hospitality. In the Varosha district is the house-museum "Nikola Simov - Kuruto" - dedicated to the famous revolutionary - flag bearer of Botev's detachment. Since 2011, the Regional History Museum - Targovishte with Misionis and the Slaveykovo School have been presenting the city and the region in the National Movement “Discover Bulgaria - 100 National Tourist Sites” under № 81. Forget the clichés and trust your eyes to discover the unique, authentic antiquities , resurrecting the rich millennial past and heritage of the town of Targovishte and the Targovishte region.

 

Contact persons: Magdalena Zhecheva - director, Margarita Petrova - guide