Nestled in the heart of Plovdiv’s Central District, “Veliko Tarnovo” Street is one of those hidden gems where history lingers quietly behind every corner. At first glance, it may seem like just another city street, but its story stretches back to the late 19th century, when it was nothing more than a dusty path winding through the future cityscape.
The street's true transformation began with the construction of the Military Club on nearby “Ivan Vazov” Street, which spurred the rise of substantial residential buildings after 1910–1911.
A fascinating piece of its history is its brief renaming in 1941 to “Benito Mussolini” Street, reflecting the political tides of the era. After World War II, its original name — “Veliko Tarnovo” — was rightfully restored.
In recent years, “Veliko Tarnovo” Street has undergone major revitalization. In 2019, the pavement, sidewalks, and street lighting were completely renewed, significantly improving both infrastructure and the overall charm of the area.
Today, the street’s architecture is an eclectic patchwork — buildings from different styles and eras stand right next to one another, turning “Veliko Tarnovo” Street into a living museum of Plovdiv’s urban history over the last century.
At the start of the street, you’ll find one of the most stunning views in all of Plovdiv — a sweeping panorama over Tsar Simeon’s Garden.
There, in the home of the wealthy merchant Licho Lichev, stands the famed gazebo cherished by Ivan Vazov. When the national poet visited Plovdiv on November 22 1920, he stayed with Lichev and fell in love with the cozy structure, spending countless hours there. The gazebo eventually became known by his name. It once housed tables and chairs inside, while outside, a small fountain and flower beds completed the idyllic setting. Sadly, today it sits on private property, and access is restricted.
Where the modern hotel now rises opposite the garden’s fountains, once stood the house of Maria Kesiakova, daughter of Colonel Konstantin Kesiakov. Nearby was the Sarafov House, briefly home to Plovdiv mayor Atanas Kostov, several party officials, and later — in the 1970s — the “Kalina” kindergarten.
A little further down, you’ll find the home of renowned opera bass Boris Christoff, as well as the former apartment of Anton Bezenšek, founder of the city’s first singing society.
At the far end of the street once towered the impressive tobacco warehouse of Magardich Tomassian. In 1872, Tomassian had already established a tobacco-cutting workshop inside his grocery store, operated by hand-powered presses. At just fifteen, he partnered with fellow Armenian Kevork Garabedian to found the "Golden Lion Tobacco Workshop – M. Tomassian & Co.", launching Bulgaria’s first modern tobacco enterprise. Their business grew rapidly, leading to the import of a hand-cranked tobacco-cutting machine, which was replaced in 1903 by a motorized cutter — a milestone in the modernization of Bulgarian tobacco processing.
In 1907, Tomassian’s cigarettes became the first Bulgarian brand to win a gold medal for quality at the International Exhibition in London.
It was also in the company’s warehouses that Europe’s first workers’ uprising against the socialist regime broke out shortly after Stalin’s death.
Currently, they have been converted into a residential complex, and for many years before that they were part of the Dental Faculty under the hills.
Today, “Veliko Tarnovo” Street is much more than just a road; it is a vibrant cultural and architectural microcosmos, preserving more than a century of Plovdiv’s memories, events, and characters. It remains a powerful symbol of the city's deep bond between past and present — a living thread in Plovdiv’s ever-changing urban tapestry.
