The Preslav Painted Ceramics style is unique to this city and was mass-produced for both royal decoration and trade.
The 10th-century Golden Treasure of Preslav was discovered by chance in a vineyard near the fortress walls in 1978.
The Round Church layout features a circular nave surrounded by a colonnade of fourteen monolithic columns.
The city was burned and abandoned in 972 AD during the Byzantine conquest of the First Bulgarian Empire.
Archaeologists have recovered thousands of lead seals from the site, which have helped map the administrative history of the Bulgarian state.
Veliki Preslav served as the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire from 893 to 972 AD under Tsar Simeon I. The site encompasses the ruins of the medieval city, including the Outer and Inner Fortresses and the remains of the Royal Palace. The on-site museum houses the 10th-century Painted Ceramics collection, which is internationally recognized for its unique craftsmanship. Visitors can view the famous Golden Treasure of Preslav, featuring gold-plated silver vessels and intricate jewelry. The site's architectural highlight is the Round Church, also known as the Golden Church, noted for its complex ground plan and decorative interior. Extensive archaeological excavations have been conducted here since the early 20th century. The complex spans a large geographic area, requiring significant walking to see all unearthed foundations. It remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the Balkans regarding the history of Early Medieval Slavic culture.
The reconstructed entrance and the columns of the Golden Church provide the most distinct architectural compositions.
Bring comfortable, durable walking shoes as the ruins are spread across a wide, grassy, and uneven field.
Allocate extra time for the museum, as the most fragile and detailed artifacts are protected indoors.
Visit on a clear day to better distinguish the excavated foundations of the palace complex.
Do not attempt to see the entire site solely on foot without checking the distance between the museum and the distant fortress ruins, as it is a significant walk.
The museum and site typically operate daily during the main tourist season, but individual sections may close for seasonal maintenance or severe weather.
Maintain respectful behavior around archaeological foundations; do not climb on or walk across exposed walls.
