In the Veliki Preslav Reserve, you can see the remains of churches, monasteries, workshops, studios, and palaces. Together with the collections of the Archaeological Museum, they offer different ways to explore history: through surviving buildings, crafts, and evidence of everyday life. Cultural and nature-related themes also add further dimensions to your stay.
Palace Complex and Museum Objects
The surviving palace complex of Veliki Preslav comprises the Great Palace and the West Palace. The Golden Church was built during the reign of Tsar Simeon I. Excavations also uncovered the Ruler’s Temple; a straight, 35-metre-long road connected it to the ruler’s palace. These buildings and their documented connections give your visit a tangible archaeological focus.
The Archaeological Museum displays painted pottery, jewellery, weapons, the Preslav Gold Treasure, a ceramic iconostasis, inscriptions, and lead seals. Other objects illustrate everyday life and agriculture. The gold treasure comprises more than 170 objects made of gold, silver, and bronze, decorated with cloisonné enamel, precious stones, and pearls. Among them are pieces of jewellery from the 10th century, made in Constantinople and Preslav.
The museum also presents monuments associated with the periods before Preslav became a capital, when it was a capital, and after that time. The Preslav Literary School is connected with medieval literary development and the spread of the Cyrillic alphabet across the Slavic world. The Kartalova Ethnographic House offers a different perspective on everyday life: it presents traditional rural life in the 19th and early 20th centuries alongside elements of urban life introduced under European influence.
Nature Spots and the Route to the Waterfall
The path to Dervisha Waterfall starts at the car park beside the Dervisha Reservoir and includes a walk of about one kilometre. Before reaching the waterfall, you must cross two rivers three times in total. Conditions on the path can change, especially near the water and on slippery slopes; check them locally before setting out. The waterfall is about six metres high. Bulgaria’s only natural stand of horse chestnut trees is protected in the Dervisha Protected Area.
Protected wild carob trees are another seasonal feature of the region: they bloom in May around the Preslav National and Archaeological Reserve and grow in the Patleyna Protected Area. The flowering period can vary from year to year. If you are planning your trip around it, check the timing in advance rather than treating May as an exact date every year.
Visiting and Getting Around
Visitor access is paid and available year-round; guided tours are offered. Check the opening details again before your trip. The reserve is reached via a renovated road, and public transport is not available for this route. There is a rest area for visitors and a nearby car park close to the Temple Monument of St. Cyril and St. Methodius.
The Tourist Information Centre in Veliki Preslav provides information about regional cultural and religious sites, accommodation, restaurants, and events. As operating details may change, it is advisable to check in advance. The information centre in the palace complex provides information about medieval Preslav; you can enquire in advance about guided discussions. Souvenirs and information materials about the second Bulgarian capital are also available there.
Discover more destinations: Kaspichan, Preselka, Shumen.
For the broader travel overview: Shumen Province.
