| Veliko Tǎrnovo Province | |
| Native Name: | Област Велико Търново |
| Native Name Lang: | bul |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Bulgaria |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Veliko Tarnovo |
| Parts Type: | Municipalities |
| Parts Style: | para |
| P1: | 10 |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Lyubomira Popova |
| Area Total Km2: | 4,662 |
| Population Total: | 204,033 |
| Population As Of: | December 2022 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | EET |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | EEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +3 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | License plate |
| Blank Info Sec1: | BT |
Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgarian: Област Велико Търново|Oblast Veliko Tǎrnovo) is a province in the middle of the northern part of Bulgaria. Its capital city, Veliko Tarnovo, is of historical significance as it is known as the capital of the Bulgarian Empire. The province is divided into ten municipalities with a total population, as of December 2009, of 275,395.[1] [2] [3]
Other towns in the province include Gorna Oryahovitsa, which is within 10km (10miles) of Veliko Tarnovo, Svishtov, set on Danube River and famous for its Tsenov Academy of Economics, and Suhindol, the hometown of Lovico — an internationally recognised label for fine wines and spirits. Another notable place is the village of Arbanasi, set between Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa. The combination of old style and modern architecture, as well as its churches and monasteries, present the spirit of Bulgaria. Real estate is among the most expensive in the country.
The Veliko Tarnovo oblast contains 10 municipalities (Bulgarian: общини, Bulgarian: obshtini). The following table shows the names of each municipality in English and Cyrillic, the main town (in bold) or village, and the population of each as of December 2009.
| Municipality | Cyrillic | Pop. | Town/Village | Pop.[4] [5] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena | Елена | 10,407 | Elena | 5,665 | |
| Gorna Oryahovitsa | Горна Оряховица | 48,695 | Gorna Oryahovitsa | 32,436 | |
| Lyaskovets | Лясковец | 13,677 | Lyaskovets | 8,277 | |
| Pavlikeni | Павликени | 26,342 | Pavlikeni | 11,151 | |
| Polski Trambesh | Полски Тръмбеш | 15,309 | Polski Trambesh | 4,546 | |
| Strazhitsa | Стражица | 14,742 | Strazhitsa | 5,170 | |
| Suhindol | Сухиндол | 3,046 | Suhindol | 2,146 | |
| Svishtov | Свищов | 49,817 | Svishtov | 35,923 | |
| Veliko Tarnovo | Велико Търново | 88,724 | Veliko Tarnovo | 67,099 | |
| Zlataritsa | Златарица | 4,636 | Zlataritsa | 2,558 |
The Veliko Tarnovo province had a population of 293,294 (293,172 also given) according to a 2001 census, of which were male and were female.[6] As of the end of 2009, the population of the province, announced by the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, numbered 275,395 of which are inhabitants aged over 60 years.[7]
Total population (2011 census): 258 494 [8]
Ethnic groups (2011 census):[9] Identified themselves: 233,992 persons:
211 353 (90,32%)
15 709 (6,71%)
3 875 (1,65%)
A further 25,000 persons in the Province did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.
Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:[10]
| Census 2001 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| religious adherence | population | % | |
| Orthodox Christians | 254,914 | 86.95% | |
| Muslims | 26,085 | 8.90% | |
| Roman Catholics | 3,111 | 1.06% | |
| Protestants | 417 | 0.14% | |
| Other | 1,141 | 0.39% | |
| Religion not mentioned | 7,504 | 2.56% | |
| total | 293,172 | 100% | |