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For other places with a similar name, see Targoviste.
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Targovishte

Търговище
City
Targovishte-MainSquare.jpg
Coat of arms of Targovishte
Coat of arms
Targovishte is located in Bulgaria
Targovishte
Targovishte
Location in Bulgaria
Country Bulgaria
Province (Oblast) Targovishte
Municipality Targovishte
Area
 • City 87.427 km2 (33.756 sq mi)
Elevation
170 m (560 ft)
Population
 • City 34,793
 • Density 397.966/km2 (1,030.728/sq mi)
 • Urban
53,041
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
7700
Area code(s) 0601
License Plate T
Website Official website: http://www.targovishte.bg/

Targovishte (Bulgarian: Търговище) is a city in Bulgaria. It is the main city and economic center of the Targovishte Province.

The city is located at the northern base of the Preslav mountains, along the Vrana River. It is about 335 kilometers (208 miles) northeast of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Targovishte is also about 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of Varna and the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. This city is well-known for its long history as a market town.

What Does the Name Targovishte Mean?

The name "Targovishte" comes from an old Slavic word, "targ," which means "trade." The ending "-ishte" means "place," so the name literally means "market town."

This is similar to the Turkish name for the city, Eski Cuma, which means "old Friday" or "old market." The name Targovishte is also very similar to other cities like Târgoviște in Romania and Trgovište in Serbia.

A Look at Targovishte's History

Targovishte has a very long history, with people living here for thousands of years.

Early Settlements and Fortresses

Archaeologists have found proof that people lived in this area during the Copper-Stone Age. This was between 5,000 and 4,000 BC. Later, there were settlements built by the Thracians from the 5th to 3rd centuries BC. The Romans also had a settlement here from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD.

An early Byzantine fortress was built around the 5th or 6th century. A Bulgarian settlement started in the 10th century during the First Bulgarian Empire. However, it didn't grow much until the 12th century. At that time, a fortress called "Sborishte" was built because the city was on an important road.

Growth as a Market Town

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Targovishte became a very famous market. People came from all around to trade animals and handmade goods. It was known as Eski Cuma, meaning "old bazaar" in Turkish.

Education also grew during this time. A school run by monks opened in the 18th century. A public school, called the Slaveykov School, was started in 1846. It was in the old Varosha Quarter. A famous teacher named Petko Slaveykov taught there. A chitalishte (a community center for reading and culture) was also built.

Modern Development and Industries

After the Second World War, Targovishte started to develop its industries. Factories were built to make car batteries and machines for the food industry. Later, furniture and textile factories also opened.

Today, Targovishte is home to one of Bulgaria's largest wine factories. It also has one of the biggest glass factories in Europe. This glass factory is a huge investment and provides jobs for 1,500 people.

Cultural Life in Targovishte

Targovishte is an important cultural center. In 2000, the ruins of an Ancient Roman town called Missionis were found near the city.

The city has an art gallery named after Nikola Marinov, a famous Bulgarian artist who was born there. The gallery has many of his paintings. Targovishte also has a drama theatre and a puppet theatre, offering many cultural activities.

Population of Targovishte

In January 2012, about 37,341 people lived in Targovishte. The wider Targovishte Municipality, which includes nearby villages, had about 56,868 residents. The city's population was highest in 1989, with 47,798 people.

The table below shows how the population of Targovishte has changed over the years:

Targovishte
Year 1887 1910 1934 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2009 2011 2013
Population 8,519 9,388 10,343 10,561 14,193 25,588 38,875 46,043 42,988 40,659 38,390 37,375 37,611  ??
Highest number 47,798 in 1989
Sources: National Statistical Institute, citypopulation.de, pop-stat.mashke.org, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Who Lives in Targovishte?

According to the 2011 census, most people in Targovishte are Bulgarians, making up about 79.4% of the population. The next largest group is Turks, at 17.8%, followed by Roma at 1.8%.

Targovishte Municipality

Targovishte Municipality is one of five municipalities in the Targovishte Province. Besides the city of Targovishte, the municipality includes 51 other villages.

Here are some of the villages in the Targovishte Municipality:

Important Places in Targovishte

Targovishte has several important buildings and places.

Churches in the City

  • Sv. Uspenie Bogorodichno Church (also known as the Dormition of the Theotokos Church)
  • St. John of Rila Church

Schools for Young People

Targovishte has many schools, including:

  • Sveti Sedmochislenitsi High School
  • Profesor Nikola Marinov High School
  • Mitropolit Andrey High School
  • Hristo Botev Comprehensive School
  • P.R.Slaveykov Comprehensive School
  • John Atanasov Vocational School
  • Nikola Simov Vocational (Sport) School
  • St. John of Rila School for children with hearing problems

Sports in Targovishte

Sports are an important part of life in Targovishte.

Football Team

The local football (soccer) team is called PFC Svetkavitsa ("lightning"). They play their home games at the Stadion Dimitar Burkov.

Speedway Racing

Targovishte also has a Speedway Stadium. This stadium used to host big motorcycle speedway events. These included qualifying rounds for the Speedway World Championship in the 1980s. As of 2024, the stadium is not used, but it is still located near the Central Targovishte Cemetery.

Famous People from Targovishte

Many notable people have come from Targovishte, including:

  • Andrey, Metropolitan of New York (a religious leader)
  • Nikola Marinov (a famous artist)
  • Nikola Simov [bg] (a revolutionary)
  • 100 Kila (a musician)
  • Yordan Kamdzhalov (a conductor)
  • Dr.Hristo Hristov [bg] (a financier)
  • Rosen Vladimirov (a former politician)
  • Tunalı Hilmi (a Turkish politician)

Targovishte Around the World

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria

Targovishte has "twin town" or "sister city" relationships with several cities in other countries. These connections help promote friendship and understanding between different cultures.

Sister Cities

Targovishte is twinned with:

Images for kids

  • Targovishte1panorama

    A panoramic view of the city

  • Targovishte 017

    Church of the Dormition of the Holy Mother (1851)

  • Targovishte hub

    Targovishte centre

  • Old Building - Targovishte

    Street scene

  • Targovishte 054

    Street scene

  • TargovishteTheatre

    Targovishte Theatre with the Statue of Orpheus

  • HristoBotevSchool

    Comprehensive School Hristo Botev

  • TheOldChurchTargovishte

    The Old Church

  • Old Slaveykov School Targovishte

    The Old Slaveykov School (Now Museum)

  • VaroshaTargovishte1

    The Old Quarter Varosha

  • VaroshaTargovishte2

    The Old Quarter Varosha

  • TheOldChurchTargovishte2

    The Old Church

  • StJohnRilaChurch Tshte1

    St. John of Rila church

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Targóvishte para niños

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