Targovishte is a city in Bulgaria, capital of Targovishte Province. It is situated at the southern foot of the low mountain of Preslav on both banks of the Vrana River. It is 339 km north-east of Sofia, 41 km west of Shumen, 25 km north-west of Veliki Preslav, 24 km north-east of Omurtag, 100 km north-east of Veliko Tarnovo, 36 km south of Razgrad, and 35 km south-east of Popovo. It was an ancient market settlement.
First mentioned in 1573 in Ottoman tax registers, it was already an administrative centre in 1658. In the 18th and 19th centuries it became a famous market for animals and craft products called Eski Cuma ("old bazaar"). A monastical school was opened in in the 18th century and a secular one was established in 1846, with Petko Slaveykov being a teacher there; a chitalishte was also built. Industrial development began after the Second World War. Factories producing car batteries and machines for the food industry were opened; later, furniture and textile industries developed. One of Bulgaria's largest wine production factories is located there. The town is a cultural centre. In 2000, ruins of an Ancient Roman town called Missionis (Мисионис) were unearthed near Targovishte.
It is a multiethnic city which has predominant Bulgarian population with sizeable Turkish and Roma minorities. There are two Bulgarian Orthodox churches, Dormition of the Theotokos (1847) and Saint John of Rila, and one mosque. The local football team is called PFC Svetkavitsa ("lightning") and plays in the B PFG. The city is also noted for its shooting sports traditions. There is also a drama theatre and a puppet theatre. |
