“Build not so many walls to divide you, but more bridges – to unite you!”
Koljo Ficheto
WHO WE ARE
Welcome to the Bridges Residence! We are a family-owned and managed boutique hotel in the heart of the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. We believe in true hospitality – not the corporate, but the human kind. Hospitality as this special interaction between humans that makes everyone involved feel good, happy and smiling. Our ambition is to redefine the hospitality industry in Veliko Tarnovo and to serve as a bridge between old and new, local and foreign, modern and classical.
Create memorable experiences with us! Discover the old capital and its treasures in style and make your accommodation part of the experience and memories you’ll take back home. Enjoy moments with your nearest and dearest, exploring the city and surrounding area. Bond with family and friends, and who knows – may be make some new ones while with us.
THE ARCHITECTURE
From the 1860s…
The stone structure of the building dates back to the 1860s and the lowest level of the house as it stands today is from that period. With the help of a local sculptor, the space was carefully restored and brought back to life while keeping some original features – like the vaulted stone ceilings and narrow castle-like windows – intact.
Through the 1980s…
The 1980s and the communist era aesthetics left their mark on the building as well. In the spirit of creating “bridges” with our past we integrated elements from that period into the new look of the Residence. You will find deconstructed segments from the larger-than-life wooden sculpture that we inherited from that era scattered throughout the public spaces of the building. And if you are lucky, you may spend the night in the room with the beautiful paneled wood ceiling that was painstakingly brought back to life during the renovation. Lastly, you cannot miss the miniature model of Tsarevets fortress, also from that period, built into the exposed rock foundation as you go down for breakfast in the morning.
To today
Attention to detail and respect for the history of the building and its location were the main driving forces during the renovation of the Residence. We worked with architects and designers from Sofia and London to find the best possible way to bridge the old with the new and make it all feel and look contemporary, beautiful, clean and stylish – so that a modern day traveler would not lack for anything.
Bridges Residence opened its doors in summer 2022 to welcome guests from all over the world.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
SUSTAINABILITY
We care for the world we live in and the world we will leave for the next generation and therefore take sustainability very seriously.
Energy efficiency
From the moment we started the construction and renovation process to the day we opened, we’ve consciously looked to invest in the most energy-efficient technologies and materials in order to make the Residence sustainable and efficient long term, including proper building insulation and modern HVAC system.
Clean drinking water
We have selected the best water filtering solution, so that the water in the building is as clean as possible and good for drinking, so that we can proudly say we bring no plastic bottles inside Bridges Residence. We recycle and aim to have as little plastic as practical for the type of business we are in.
Cosmetics
The cosmetics in the hotel are made especially for us and we pride ourselves on not offering single use cosmetics of questionable quality. If you like any of the products found in your bathroom – you are welcome to purchase any of them – just ask at the reception.
We constantly look for further improvements, which over time should add up to not-so-minor benefits in terms of efficiency and sustainability. Every solution chosen has been the result of a cost-benefits analysis, with sustainability at the heart of the decision.
LOCAL
We aim to source as many as possible of the products we offer on our breakfast menu locally, which may vary with the seasons.
MADE IN BULGARIA
We made a conscious choice of suppliers from the very beginning of the renovation process and are proud to have a Made in Bulgaria “stamp” all over our furniture, fittings and supplies.
We are pleased to mention a few items fundamental for a great hotel experience:
• Mattresses from TED
• Duck down pillows and duvets from Down Creators
• Bed linen and towels by Aglika (Tvarditsa)
• Hand made cast iron beds from Kovacha
OUR PARTNERS
who cannot be limited by a title, but let’s call her the Artistic and Creative Director without whom we could not have crossed the finishing line
