Veliiko Tarnovo is a city located in Northern Bulgaria, the center of the region of the same name and the North Central Region. The city is the capital of the Second Bulgarian State and, thanks to its rich cultural and historical heritage, is an important tourist center. Until 1965, the city bore the name Tarnovo, when Veliko was added to it because of its former glory. The city is in 16th place in terms of population with 68,984 inhabitants and one of the four cities in Bulgaria with positive natural growth. It is located between the Danube Plain and Stara Planina, on the first heights of the Pre-Balkans. Tarnovo is the main administrative, industrial and educational center of the region. The National Military University “Vasil Levski”, the VTU “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, the second largest university in Bulgaria, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Tsarevets and Trapezitsa fortresses, numerous museums and cultural attractions, a total of 1613 objects of historical heritage are located here To Bulgaria. In 1879, the Constituent Assembly marking the beginning of the Third Bulgarian State was held in the city. The guardian of the city is St. Patriarch Euthymius, whose statue rises above the Veliko Tarnovo University building. Veliko Tarnovo is a candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019