Veliki Preslav: History, Churches and Nature

Veliki Preslav offers two distinct themes: Bulgaria’s medieval history and the nature of the Patleyna protected area. Preslav was a spiritual and literary centre and is associated with the development of the Slavic script and Bulgaria’s Golden Age. Visitors planning a themed stay can focus separately on sacred art, archaeological remains and protected landscapes.

Medieval history and sacred art

The Golden Church was built during the reign of Tsar Simeon I (893–927). The Round Church is considered an expression of the highest achievements of Old Bulgarian monumental art. Its decoration includes marble carvings, painted ceramics and glass mosaics. Veliki Preslav is therefore notable not only for its historical context, but also for specific aspects of architecture and design.

Veliki Preslav is one of Bulgaria’s 100 National Tourist Sites. Another way to explore its heritage is the Veliki Preslav National Historical and Archaeological Reserve, where the remains of churches, monasteries, workshops, studios and palaces have been preserved. The remains of the Great Palace are located in the palace complex. The throne room was a three-aisled hall with three sections—an architectural detail that offers another perspective on the surviving remains.

Museum, house and churches

The Veliki Preslav Archaeological Museum displays a monumental ceramic icon of Saint Theodore and has a collection of lead seals. These two themes offer different ways to engage with the museum’s collections: a large ceramic work sits alongside a collection of seals. The National Historical and Archaeological Reserve also has information panels and a tourist information centre.

The Kartalova Ethnographic House presents rural life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This historical perspective differs markedly from the city’s medieval traces. The churches, too, reflect different eras and locations: St Peter and Paul dates from the 18th century; St Michael the Archangel is in the centre of Veliki Preslav. The Church of St Cyril and Methodius stands in a centuries-old pine forest in the Archaeological Reserve.

Patleyna and the Dervisha protected area

The Patleyna protected area is located in the lands of Veliki Preslav, four kilometres south of the city. It protects Bulgaria’s largest natural population of wild carob. A visitor trail is marked through the protected area. The area also has historical associations: within Patleyna or in its immediate vicinity are the remains of a craft workshop with kilns dating from the First Bulgarian Empire, from the late 9th to the early 10th century. The medieval Monastery of St Panteleimon, dating from the 10th century, is also within the protected area or in its immediate vicinity.

The Dervisha protected area lies near Veliki Preslav, three kilometres from the city on the northern slope of the Preslav Mountains. It is a protected area in the “maintained reserve” category and protects Bulgaria’s only natural population of horse chestnut trees. Patleyna and Dervisha therefore represent different natural features: wild carob in Patleyna and horse chestnuts in Dervisha. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus on Patleyna’s marked visitor trail and historical associations or on Dervisha’s distinctive population of horse chestnut trees.

Historical context in Shumen Province

The wider destination of Shumen Province extends beyond Veliki Preslav. Pliska was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire from 681 to 893. Veliki Preslav was declared the capital of the Bulgarian state following the Church and People’s Council of Preslav in 893. Also in Shumen Province, the Madara Rider has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. These regional landmarks complement the local themes without replacing Veliki Preslav’s churches, collections and protected areas.

Discover more destinations: Kochovo, Kaspichan, Varbitza, Venetz, Shumen.

Back to the broader travel guide: Shumen Province.