1. 1 VELIKO TURNOVO MUNICIPALITY

2. 2 Veliko Turnovo Municipality is situated in the central part of North Bulgaria and it is included in the administrative and territorial boundaries of Veliko Turnovo district. Veliko Turnovo is almost in the middle of the distance between the biggest cities in the country – Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas. Veliko Turnovo Municipality is the biggest municipality in the district and it is located on 885 km 2. Veliko Turnovo Municipality is situated in the central part of North Bulgaria and it is included in the administrative and territorial boundaries of Veliko Turnovo district. Veliko Turnovo is almost in the middle of the distance between the biggest cities in the country – Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas. Veliko Turnovo Municipality is the biggest municipality in the district and it is located on 885 km 2. The population of Veliko Turnovo Municipality as to 29.02.2008 is 92 954 citizens with permanent address registration, inhabiting 37 populated areas-three towns and 34 villages and neighborhoods. The population of Veliko Turnovo Municipality as to 29.02.2008 is 92 954 citizens with permanent address registration, inhabiting 37 populated areas-three towns and 34 villages and neighborhoods. Veliko Turnovo is administrative, cultural, educational, economic center. Municipality has one of the favorable age structures for the country /38% age dependence coefficient/. Municipality has very high proportion of the population inhabiting the urban areas -81,9%. The density is 102,1 persons/m 2.. Veliko Turnovo is administrative, cultural, educational, economic center. Municipality has one of the favorable age structures for the country /38% age dependence coefficient/. Municipality has very high proportion of the population inhabiting the urban areas -81,9%. The density is 102,1 persons/m 2.. The economic profile of Veliko Turnovo Municipality is characterized with development of modern tourist industry, which provides cognitive, cultural, congress, rural and ecological tourism. Structure defining branches are wood processing and processing industry, electronics, construction works, food industry, commerce and services. The economic profile of Veliko Turnovo Municipality is characterized with development of modern tourist industry, which provides cognitive, cultural, congress, rural and ecological tourism. Structure defining branches are wood processing and processing industry, electronics, construction works, food industry, commerce and services.

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5. 5 Social and environmental aspect The municipality has well developed networks of educational, health and sports institutions. In the sphere of education the outlook of Veliko Turnovo Municipality is shaped by the Veliko Turnovo University “Sts. Cyril and Methodius”, which is the second biggest in Bulgaria as well as the oldest Military University “Vassil Levski”. The analysis of the unemployment in accordance with the registration regime of Labour Bureau illustrates a tendency towards decrease of the unemployed, indicative is the level of the unemployment as to 30.09.2008-4.96% which is lower with comparison to the average of the country /8.44%/. Veliko Turnovo Municipality has relatively good parameters of the environment. There are ecologically clean territories, which provide excellent opportunities for ecological agriculture and production. On the territory of the municipality rich flora and fauna are developing, presence of interesting natural sights, among which mineral springs and protected places. VELIKO TURNOVO MUNICIPALITY

6. 6 ROAD TRANSPORT ROAD TRANSPORT RAILWAY TRANSPORT AIR TRANSPORT

7. 7 General characteristics of the local economy Structure defining branches of the local economy are wood industry, electronics, construction works, food industry, trade and services Structure defining branches of the local economy are wood industry, electronics, construction works, food industry, trade and services On the territory of the municipality private and corporative property are prevailing, while there is lasting tendency to increasing the share of the private sector at the expense of state and municipal sectors. On the territory of the municipality private and corporative property are prevailing, while there is lasting tendency to increasing the share of the private sector at the expense of state and municipal sectors. The economy falls into three branches-industry, agriculture, services, as for the period 2005-2008 the relative share of each of these branches on the basis of gross output records growth of increase with 41,33% averagely. /agriculture-35%; industry-41%, services-48%/. The economy falls into three branches-industry, agriculture, services, as for the period 2005-2008 the relative share of each of these branches on the basis of gross output records growth of increase with 41,33% averagely. /agriculture-35%; industry-41%, services-48%/. VELIKO TURNOVO MUNICIPALITY

8. 8 Life standard Differences concerning life conditions exist between the populated areas of Veliko Turnovo municipality, regarding the specific character in their development. Leading is the role of the economic development, but important is significance of the social factors. Differences concerning life conditions exist between the populated areas of Veliko Turnovo municipality, regarding the specific character in their development. Leading is the role of the economic development, but important is significance of the social factors. Human development index includes three components: the life expectancy, combined education index /literacy of the population, enrolling in the three educational grades/ and economic component. Human development index includes three components: the life expectancy, combined education index /literacy of the population, enrolling in the three educational grades/ and economic component. Veliko Turnovo Municipality is over the average in all indicators, close to the maximum grades. Regarding the combined educational index Veliko Turnovo Municipality has the highest educational index. /6 th place in the country/, regarding the economic component-9 place. Veliko Turnovo municipality is stated as very developed in accordance with the total index of human development. Veliko Turnovo Municipality is over the average in all indicators, close to the maximum grades. Regarding the combined educational index Veliko Turnovo Municipality has the highest educational index. /6 th place in the country/, regarding the economic component-9 place. Veliko Turnovo municipality is stated as very developed in accordance with the total index of human development. VELIKO TURNOVO MUNICIPALITY

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10. 10 VELIKO TURNOVO ACHIEVEMENTS IN AQCUIRING EU FUNDS VELIKO TURNOVO ACHIEVEMENTS IN AQCUIRING EU FUNDS For the period 01.10.07 – 31.12.09 the Municipality of Veliko Turnovo took advantage of the European Structural and Cohesion funds and has elaborated and submitted 21 project proposals for EU grants, 11 of which are contracted and the rest of them are still under evaluation; For the period 01.10.07 – 31.12.09 the Municipality of Veliko Turnovo took advantage of the European Structural and Cohesion funds and has elaborated and submitted 21 project proposals for EU grants, 11 of which are contracted and the rest of them are still under evaluation; The total amount contracted reaches 29 260 671 euro and the expected EU grant for 2010 is 48 257 484 euro. The total amount contracted reaches 29 260 671 euro and the expected EU grant for 2010 is 48 257 484 euro.

11. 11 VELIKO TURNOVO – THE CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL CAPITAL OF BULGARIA The town and the municipality are rich in cultural and folklore events. The town and the municipality are rich in cultural and folklore events. The rich cultural and historical heritage and the unique natural, historical and architectural entities constitute Veliko Turnovo as remarkable historical, cultural and tourist center. The rich cultural and historical heritage and the unique natural, historical and architectural entities constitute Veliko Turnovo as remarkable historical, cultural and tourist center. Four cultural monuments, gathered in reserves-ensembles, complexes, grouped sites and 1515 single ones. Four cultural monuments, gathered in reserves-ensembles, complexes, grouped sites and 1515 single ones. According to the historic period to which they belong they are: pre-historic, antique, medieval, and belonging to the time of the National Revival and according to their scientific and cultural specificity – archeological, historical, architectural and constructional, art and ethnographical. According to the historic period to which they belong they are: pre-historic, antique, medieval, and belonging to the time of the National Revival and according to their scientific and cultural specificity – archeological, historical, architectural and constructional, art and ethnographical. The unique audio-visual show “Tsarevgrad Turnov – Sound and Light” is the emblem of the town – a pageant, contributing to the emotional perception of time, when the town rightfully was ranked next to Rome and Constantinople. The unique audio-visual show “Tsarevgrad Turnov – Sound and Light” is the emblem of the town – a pageant, contributing to the emotional perception of time, when the town rightfully was ranked next to Rome and Constantinople.

12. 12 VELIKO TURNOVO – A SCENE OF FAERY

13. 13 Audio-visual program “The Royal Town of Turnovo – Sound and Light”

14. 14 VELIKO TURNOVO – THE INCREDIBLE CITY… It is worth to see one of the most interesting cultural and historic sites in Veliko Turnovo: Tsarevets Hill, which was the main fortress of the medieval capital, and today, is an impressive museum in the open air, with the ruins of the palace and patriarch complexes of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12 – 14 centuries). Tsarevets Hill, which was the main fortress of the medieval capital, and today, is an impressive museum in the open air, with the ruins of the palace and patriarch complexes of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12 – 14 centuries). Trapezitsa Hill is famous for its churches, dating from the same period. At the archeological excavations there were found the ruins of 14 temples with rich inner and outside decoration. As a whole the Trapezitsa Hill is a complex with a potential for future archeological research. Trapezitsa Hill is famous for its churches, dating from the same period. At the archeological excavations there were found the ruins of 14 temples with rich inner and outside decoration. As a whole the Trapezitsa Hill is a complex with a potential for future archeological research. 18 km. away from Veliko Turnovo there are the ruins of the founded by Emperor Trayan in the year of 102 Roman town Nikopolis ad Istrum. 18 km. away from Veliko Turnovo there are the ruins of the founded by Emperor Trayan in the year of 102 Roman town Nikopolis ad Istrum. 4 km. away from Veliko Turnovo is situated the village of Arbanassi, famous for its houses – fortresses (Konstantsalieva, Hadgiilieva) decorated with woodcraft and authentic interior, and for exquisitely painted churches – all dating from 17 century… 4 km. away from Veliko Turnovo is situated the village of Arbanassi, famous for its houses – fortresses (Konstantsalieva, Hadgiilieva) decorated with woodcraft and authentic interior, and for exquisitely painted churches – all dating from 17 century…

15. 15 VELIKO TURNOVO – THE SPIRIT OF THE ANCIENT TIMES

16. 16 VELIKO TURNOVO NATURE

17. 17 VELIKO TURNOVO – SNOW-CAPPED IN WINTERDAYS

18. 18 VELIKO TURNOVO – THE GLORY IN LIGHTS AND SOUNDS

19. 19 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! CONTACTS INFO: CONTACTS INFO: 5000 VELIKO TURNOVO 2 MAIKA BULGARIA SQ. MUNICIPALITY OF VELIKO TURNOVO TEL:+359/62/619304;619357FAX:+359/62/627997;620206E-MAIL:MAYORVT@VT.BIA-BG.COM EURO_VT@ABV.BG EURO_VT@ABV.BGEURO_VT@ABV.BG WEBSITE: WWW.VELIKO-TURNOVO.BG