Museum of the Revival and Constituent Assembly

The Museum of the Revival and Constituent Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo is one of Bulgaria’s most symbolic historic buildings. Housed in the former Ottoman konak, it became the birthplace of modern Bulgarian statehood when the First Constituent Assembly met here in 1879 to adopt the Tarnovo Constitution—one of Europe’s most progressive charters of its time. Inside, the most compelling space is the Assembly Hall, restored to resemble its 19th‑century appearance. The original deputies’ desks, the presidential chair, and period documents recreate the moment Bulgaria stepped into its new political era. Nearby, the Revival-era exhibition showcases portraits of revolutionaries, handwritten letters, and clandestine printing tools used to spread ideas of liberation. A highlight is the iconography collection, featuring works from the Tryavna and Bansko schools, whose artists blended tradition with emerging national identity. The museum also preserves urban artifacts—merchant seals, guild objects, and household items that reveal how Veliko Tarnovo transformed during the 18th and 19th centuries.