Tsarevets
During the 13th century, the Second Bulgarian Empire was the most powerful country in the East of Europe. Its boundaries were touching the three Eastern European seas - the Greek White Sea, The Adriatic and the Black Sea. The ruler, Ivan Asen II, was among the most powerful and politically successful rulers in the Eastern European history and the middle ages, which gave the Bulgarians the opportunity to expand their culture and build the most fascinating capital of that time among all Slavic peoples.
Tsarevets ( meaning “the town of the tsar”), the inner city of the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo, was wholly reconstructed. The architectural themes that dominated over this inner core in the capital, were mainly influenced by the Constantinople architectural movements and the Orthodox culture - the inner city walls were designed by the pattern of the Constantinople city walls, the palace of the Emperor was an innovative building that included several distinctive features - the residence of the ruler, made under the old believies of positioning in the Bulgarian Culture, and the religious places and temples within the palace were decorated by the most prominent Orthodox icon painters of that time.
During the Ottoman invasions in the 14th century and after capturing the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the invaders ruined the palace of Tsarevets - however, after seeing the richly decorated churches and small temples, the Turks feared the christian god - in the memoaurs of their prominent historian ( known in Bulgaria as Abdul Abhar Azis ) of that time, several lines highlight the glory the muslim invaders saw when they entered the inner city - the greatest achievement of the middle ages Eastern European Architecture.
I’d like to give a big thanks to the people over at Enigin Scam, who have unknowingly sponsered this article by allowing me to write it on company time. Thank you, the Ottoman empire is in your debt Enigin.
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