Lovech - Bulgaria. Populated places in Bulgaria Glovech Bulgaria

LOCATION

Lovech located 170 km northeast of Sofia. The city stands on both banks of the Osam River. This is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in Bulgaria.

Lovech is the heir to the Roman road station Melta, which was of great strategic importance for the Danube - White Sea road. In the Middle Ages the city remained an important military-strategic center. Until the 11th century. it was called Lovits or the city of hunters. In the 12th century. The city's territory is expanding due to the relocation of some residents to the right bank of the Osym River. In the XIII and especially in the XIV centuries. Lovech became one of the largest cities and fortresses in Northern Bulgaria and achieved an enviable economic prosperity. The city fell to Turkish rule in 1393. In the first centuries of Ottoman rule, the city fell into decay.

There was once an ancient wooden bridge over the Osam River, but it was carried away by the river in 1872. Just two years later, the brilliant self-taught architect Kolyu Ficheto built his famous covered bridge with 24 small workshops on it. Unfortunately, in 1925 it was destroyed by fire. The current, third bridge was built in its likeness. It was created only for pedestrians, and on both sides there are many shops.

In the old quarter of the city architectural and historical reserve of Varosha. It stands like an amphitheater on the right bank of the Osam River. Over 160 houses have been restored in the reserve - wonderful examples of architecture from the era of the Bulgarian National Revival. The houses along the street leading to Stratesh Park stand out. Stretesh occupies the eastern part of the reserve. This is a wonderful place to relax with picturesque landscapes and a zoological garden. It is also known as "Lilac Park" due to the large number of lilacs growing here. In Varosha there is the Museum of the Bulgarian National Revival and National Liberation Movement, also known as the Vasil Levski Museum. It is very pleasant to stroll along the small steep and narrow alleys of old Varosha. When leaving Lovech, there is the Bash Bunar Park. Here, many caves have formed on the rocky banks of the Osam River.

HOW TO GET TO LOVECHA?

Property offers in this region

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City Lovech is on the borderWithDanube plain and foothills of the Balkan mountainsVnorthpartBulgaria, 160 km northeast of and 35 km south ofcitiesPlevena. Lovechlocated on the banks of the Osam River (Bulgarian Osm). The eastern part of the city is surrounded by a 250-meter plateau,Athe southwestern part of the city is surrounded by the Bash Bunar hillsAndHisarya.

Osam River

City `s history

Lovechhas a very ancient history. INuhquiet places, traces of residence were foundThracian tribe Melds, traces of whose presence date back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC. e. In the vicinity of Lovech, the Melds founded their capital, the city of Melta.

Laterwhen the Balkanswere capturedy RimskOuchempireto her, was near the citybuiltmilitary garrison, which occupied an importantgeo-strategic position on one of the main Roman roads.

Hisar Fortress

In the former Roman fortress of Hisarya, a peace treaty was concluded between Bulgaria and Byzantium in 1187.INuhthat placeBulgarian independence was officially declared.Later in 12 centurycityLovechbecamea major shopping center and one of the most famous cities in Bulgaria.

During timesTuretskWowinvasionI,in 1446, the fortress of Hisarya was capturedand the city itselfLovech.Dstayed near the city for a long timesome« privilege", ban tourcamsettle in the city and take Bulgarian children as Janissaries(Bulgarian Yenicheri) regular infantry of the armed forces O Smansky Empire.

IN16 – 17 centuriesLovech city againbecame an important trading center and one of the richest cities in Bulgaria; in 1520 it was named Altsn Lovech (Golden Lovech).

IN1784 citywas almost completely burned and destroyed by the Turkish army,approximately and30,000 townspeople survivednear 4600. Liberation of LovechhappenedAugust 22, 1877.During the Russo-Turkish War 1877 – 1878, RussianstroopsThe city was liberated twicefirst time 5July 1877and the second, finallyAugust 22, 1877.

Attractions

The Hisarya fortress was built during the First Bulgarian Kingdom (681-1018). Here in 1187 a peace treaty was signed between Bulgaria and Byzantium, marking the beginning of the Second Bulgarian State and the end of Byzantine rule over the Bulgarian lands.

Hisar Fortress

The fortress of Hisarya above Lovech was named during Ottoman rule and is one of the last conquered by Turkish troops. Lovech managed to maintain its active economic and cultural life during Ottoman rule. In the 17th century, trade flourished here, the city is an important trading center in the Bulgarian lands and traders and hunters reach far beyond the borders of the Ottoman Empire.

Old district of Varosha

In the old district of Lovech - Varosha there is an ethnographic complex and the house-museum “Vasil Levski”. Lovech is known as the center of the internal revolutionary organization of the revolutionary Vasil Levski (1837-1873) in his struggle for liberation from Ottoman rule. The narrow small streets of Varosha and the authentic atmosphere take tourists back to ancient times.

Vasil Levski

In the highest part of the old city are the remains of the Hissar fortress. Near the fortress there is a monument to Vasil Levski. You can learn about the history of the city and the region at the City Historical Museum.

Covered Bridge over the Os Riversm is the symbol of Lovech. The bridge connects the old and new parts of the city. It was built in 1872-1874. builder Kolya Ficheto, a master builder of the Renaissance, and today there are many shops where you can buy souvenirs.

Varosha also houses an Art Gallery andchurch temple “Assumption of the Theotokos”.

On the banks of the Osam River there is also the “Bash Bunar” park, the rocky banks of the river are indented with small and large caves. In two caves – Vasil Levski and Tabashka – bones and objects from the Paleolithic and Bronze Age were found. The park is a pleasant place for walking and relaxing.

Stratesh Hill is another popular place for walking in Lovech. The hill has been turned into a recreational park, as well as the Lovech Zoo. There are also two monuments in honor of the fallen soldiers in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.

Kakrinskoto Hanche (hospital), where Vasil Levski was captured by Ottoman troops, has now been turned into a museum. It is located 19 km from Lovech and is one of the 100 national tourist sites.

Devetashka Cave is located 18 km from Lovech. This is the largest of 60 caves in the Devetashko plateau area. The cascade of lakes and waterfalls inside the cave is especially impressive.

Krushuna waterfalls are another natural attraction of the Lovech region. The waterfalls are the highest travertine cascade in Bulgaria. An eco-trail with bridges and stairs is laid across the cascade of water, so visitors can reach observation platforms below and above the falls.

About 160 kilometers from Sofia towards Pleven is the famous tourist town of Lovech. Population over 38,000 people.
Lovech is famous for such attractions as the covered pedestrian bridge and. And also with its turbulent historical past.
It is known that people have lived here since prehistoric times. This was facilitated by favorable climatic conditions and terrain.

On a hill Hisarya stands medieval - it is part of the architectural and historical reserves " Varosha“.

From the 3rd to the 1st century BC this place was called Melta, because the Thracian Meldi tribes lived here. Traces of their presence were first discovered in 1925 during excavations on the hill Hisarya. In the first century, the Romans built their transshipment station here and named the town Presidium.
In the 11th century, Lovech was attacked by the Pechenegs.

During the liberation of Lovech by Russian troops in 1784, the city was severely damaged by fire. During the next Russian-Turkish war, Russian troops occupied Lovech twice - at the end of 1810 and at the beginning of 1811.

In Lovech there was Temporary government Vasila Levski (Internal Revolutionary Organization).

The historical part of the city is very conveniently and compactly located in the southern part. We liked the accessibility of all facilities and free parking. There is an excellent Varosha mechana under the fortress - I’ll write about it later. You can buy tickets to museums on the spot, or you can buy wholesale tickets on the bridge (for all objects at once). Prices are very affordable - from 3 leva per person.

The covered transport and pedestrian bridge, commissioned by the Ottoman Empire, was erected by the famous master Kolyo Ficheto, who also built half of Veliko Tarnovo.

Entrance to the bridge in Lovech.

This bridge is over the river Osm in Lovech was first built in 1876, then restored and repaired in 1931 and 1982.

The length of the bridge was 84 meters, height 7 meters, width 10 meters.
In 1925, the bridge burned to the ground and was rebuilt according to the design of the architect Stefan Olekov.

The covered bridge acquired its current appearance in 1982 after reconstruction designed by architect Hristo Zlatev. The automobile path was replaced by a pedestrian one, on the sides of which there were 3 workshops, 9 shops and two cafes and pastry shops. The current length of the bridge is 106 meters.

An oil painting that is sold in a souvenir shop.

Cafe on the bridge in Lovech.

Model of the fortress and other tourist sites in this part of Lovech.

Lovech was liberated from the Turkish authorities by Russian major generals Mikhail Skobelev and Vladimir Dobrovolsky.

The inscription above the bridge gate.

Vorosh quarter - architectural reserve.

On the right bank of the Osam River, under the fortress itself, there is the Varosha quarter, which is an architectural reserve like a city.

During the Second World War, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was evacuated to Lovech.

Very close to Lovech there is a place where in 1959 there was a famous concentration labor camp for enemies of the people " Sunny Beach“.

Right next to the monument to Vasil Levski, the fortress and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

There are 200 architectural monuments of national and local significance. In the Varosha quarter you can also see several museums, a couple of churches, a fortress, several obelisks and monuments, as well as a water museum Old City Bath "Delhi Hammam"“.

View of Lovech from the Varosha quarter.

Kindergarten in the Varosha quarter.

The population of Lovech is 49,000 people.

Location of Lovech

Lovech is located 35 km south of Plevna and 170 km northeast of Sofia. Lovech is an ancient city located on the banks of the Osam River. You can get to Lovech by train (Troyan, Levski; 3 times a day) and by bus (Troyan - every hour, 7.00-19.00, Sofia - 6 times a day, 3 hours; Burgas, Sliven, Veliko Tarnovo - 3 times a day day; Vratsa - 2-3 times a day).

The city's telephone code is 068.

Sights of Lovech

Lovech is founded on the site of the Roman fortress of Melta. The history of Bulgaria included the Peace of Lovech, which was signed by Byzantium in 1187. This event marked the beginning of the formation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In the 18th century Lovech was a busy shopping center. In 1869 the city became the revolutionary capital of Bulgaria. The revolutionary committee organized by Vasil Levski was located here. In honor of V. Levsky, a monument was erected on which the motto of the “apostle of freedom” is carved: “If I win, the whole people win, if I lose, I only lose myself.” The Vasil Levski Museum (3 Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00, entrance fee) and the Ethnographic Museum (© Mon-Sat 8.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00, entrance fee) are open.

In the old part of the city, in the Varosha area, picturesque streets with buildings from the 18th-19th centuries have been preserved. Varosha differs from the ancient districts of other cities in that there are almost no shops or workshops here. All craft activities were concentrated on a street specially built for this purpose. In the old part of the city there is a square named after. Todor Kirkova. In the past it was a shopping center in the Varosha region. In the eastern part there is the Stratesh Park, which houses the second largest zoo in Bulgaria with more than 200 species of exotic animals and birds.

You can also see the ruins of a medieval fortress (daily 8.00-18.00, entrance hall) and the first covered bridge in the Balkans (1874, length - 276 m, width -9.5 m), spanning the Osam River. It was built by the talented Bulgarian self-taught architect Kolyo Ficheto. It connects the new and old parts of Lovech; there are many souvenir shops on the bridge.

A White Monument was erected on a rocky peak in the Stratesh Park (eastern part of the city). The names of the Russian units and units that took Lovech by storm are listed on the marble slab. There are a total of 13 monuments erected in honor of the liberation. The park is especially picturesque in the spring, when the lilacs are in bloom, which is why it has another name - Lyulyakoviyat (Lilac).

Lovech located on the border of the Danube hilly plain and the foothills of the Stara Planina Mountains. 150 km. west of Sofia, 30 km. south of Troyan and 30 km. north of Pleven.

The city is located on both sides of the Osam River, which, flowing from a rocky gorge, makes several bends between the hills of Stratesh, Hisarya and Bash Bunar.

Look video about the city of Lovech and other attractions of Bulgaria on our channel!

History of the city of Lovech

Lovech is one of the oldest cities in Bulgaria. Traces of human activity date back to ancient times. The favorable location of the city between the mountains and the plain, as well as the presence of a river, plays a decisive role in this.

The remains discovered in the Lovech caves indicate an active human presence since the Old Stone, New Stone, Bronze and Iron eras.

In the IV-III centuries. Before the time of Christ the Thracians lived there, then the Romans, and at the beginning of the 6th century the Slavs settled in these places.

The Lovech medieval fortress has been known since the time of the Second Bulgarian State. It is located on a hill, which was later called Hisarya. Here in 1187 there was a decisive battle between the Asen army and Byzantium. The signed peace treaty marked the recognition of the Second Bulgarian State.

During the Russian-Turkish War of the 18th and 19th centuries, the city often had operational significance during hostilities. Lovech is known as the center of Vasil Levski's Internal Revolutionary Organization.

Sights of Lovech

Covered Bridge, built in 1872-1874 by Nikola Fichev, the only one of its kind in the Balkans. It is built with 6 openings, whose foundations are made of large stones and special lime mortar.

Hisarlik Hill located in the Varosha quarter. Those who spend their holidays in Bulgaria can see the remains of a majestic medieval fortress dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century. There is also a 14-meter monument to the Apostle of Freedom - Vasil Levski.

Architectural historical reserve Varosha— the old part of Lovech, where you can admire buildings that have preserved the original folk architecture of the Renaissance.

Museum of the Renaissance and National Liberation Movement or Vasil Levski Museum, included in the List of 100 National Tourist Sites.

Stratesh Park will appeal to nature lovers. It is located on Stratesh Hill.