The Bulgarian Government will allocate one million leva for the renovation of the Trapezitsa Fortress in Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria's famous medieval capital, local media reported on March 10 2011.

Veliko Turnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria, referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Perched on the Yantra River, which presented a natural defensive line, the old town and its castles are famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.

Funds to restore the Trapezitsa Fortress are intended to restore the residence of the Assen dynasty and the main entrance of the fortress itself to its former glory. The exact terms and conditions for the project will be managed by the Ministry of Culture.

Archaeological finds have shown that the Trapezitsa hill hosted not only military installations and fortifications but also beautifully decorated churches and residential buildings. The relics of St. Ivan Rilski were held there for several centuries before they were moved to Rila Monastery, historical reports say.

During excavations in the northern part of the hill near the main gate of the fortress, archaeologists stumbled on remnants of the Assen palace.

Trapezitsa is the less famous fortification of its more illustrious neighbour, the adjacent Tsarevets Fortress, which is the main attraction of Veliko Turnovo. Tsarevets is on a adjacent hill, and served as the primary fortress of the Second Bulgarian Empire from 1185 to 1393, housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces.

During the Middle Ages, armouries, residential buildings, craftsmen's workshops and numerous churches and monasteries were accommodated within the walls of the fortress. Archaeological excavations have unearthed about 400 residential buildings, royal quarters, more than 22 churches and four monasteries.