Underground Heritage Restoration: Case Studies from Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Construction in historic cities, which are rich in cultural layers, always creates significant additional difficulties caused by the need to preserve antiquities without hindering modern development. The object of this report is to present the completed construction project of behind the east wing of the church “St. Forty Martyrs” in the medieval capital of Bulgaria—Veliko Tarnovo after a wall of stone masonry collapsed. Damage was inflicted on the wall of the church and its abutments. The authentic remains of the church and the archeological finds were threatened with destruction. The church is at the bank of Yantra River. The new structure has several important purposes to fulfil: a bridge, a retaining wall, a landslide reinforcement and a protected space for discovering and exposing the archeological monuments under it. The general solution, which satisfies the diverse and multidirectional requirements—transport, utilities, archeology and aesthetics is expressed in a bridging structure: reinforced concrete bridge slab on the girder, supported directly on the drilling and pouring reinforced concrete piles. The level of safety and reliability of the transport facility has been increased.