Trapezitsa is the second of Veliko Turnovo's three medieval fortified hills, rising above the Yantra just across the river from Tsarevets. During the Second Bulgarian Empire, Trapezitsa was the residential quarter of the Bulgarian nobility — dozens of churches have been identified within its walls through excavation, more than in any other Bulgarian fortress. The ruins are less extensively restored than Tsarevets and attract fewer visitors, which makes them worth seeking out.
The approach from the Asenov quarter below takes about 15 minutes on foot up a steep path. The hilltop offers excellent views across to Tsarevets and down the river gorge. Archaeological work continues on the site; finds from the excavations are displayed in the Regional Historical Museum in the town centre. The combination of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa in a single morning gives a more complete picture of medieval Tarnovgrad than either site alone.