ABOUT PLEVEN
The town of Pleven is located in the central part of the
Danubian plain, past the Vit river. It has 137 768 inhabitants. The town is situated at a distance of 174 km. to the north – east of
Sofia, at the distance of 35 km. to the north of
Lovech, at the distance of 55 km. to the south – east of
Nikopol, at the distance of 146 km. to the south – west of
Rousse. The town is a regional center.
HISTORY
Pleven has a centuries and rich in events history. It originated in Thracian times on the place of today’s park of Kailuka and it was named “Storgozia”, which name was preserved in Roman times too. After its destruction by the barbarians, the Slavs under the name of “Kamenets” rebuilt it. A second settlement was set up to the north of it which was named Pleven. Later on the two settlements were united and they were first mentioned under the name of Pleven in 1266. After the 12 th century the town developed as a craftsman’s and trade center. The town put up a ferocious resistance to the Turkish invaders and that is the reason for its being destroyed and for its population being slaughtered, expelled and converted to Mohammedanism after its downfall. In 1696 Pleven was conquered and set on fire by the Wallachian Chieftain Mihail Vityaz.
During the 17 and the 18 th centuries the Bulgarian population in the town grew in number and took the trade and the handicrafts in their own hands and started to develop its cultural life as well. The town become famous on the Balkan Peninsula and in Bulgaria for its market of cattle and sheep.
In 1825 a Bulgarian secular school was opened there, in 1840 – the first Bulgarian girl’s school was opened by Anastasia Dimitrova and a year later a new men’s school was opened.
Pleven became famous most of all with the events, which took place during the Liberation Russo – Turkish war of 1877 – 1878. The town quickly grew up after the Liberation. The newly built railway lines Sofia – Varna and Pleven greatly contributed to it. Pleven is the 7 th biggest town in Bulgaria as of the present moment.
LANDMARKS
Most of them are related to the Russo – Turkish war of Liberation. About 200 monuments remind to the generations about the most sanguinary battles, which took place here. There is a Mausoleum – Ossuary dedicated to the Russian and Romanian soldiers killed during the war in the center of the town – 5 Vazrajdane Square (+359 64/30 033). The Museum of Liberation of Pleven stands not far from it. Another landmark is the
Panorama “Pleven Epopee 1877”. It is situated at the top of the hill. Created in honour of the 100 th anniversary of the Pleven Epopee, on analogy of the Borodin Panorama in Moscow.
Monument to Victory raises on the high hill past the Vit river. You also can visit the Town
Museum of History. It is situated not far from the center. It was erected in honor of the local citizens died in the Serbian – Bulgarian war in 1885. The unique of its kind park of Kailuka, is situated in the immediate proximity of the town on the south in the valley of the Tuchenitsa river.
TRANSPORT
Pleven is a big transport center . There are regular bus lines to
Sofia,
Veliko Tarnovo,
Lovech,
Troyan,
Levski and a lot of other small settlements. The central bus station is on Republika Square (+359 64/22 961). The railway station is next the bus station, on the same square (+359 64/23 445, 24 127). Pleven is situated on the main railway line Sofia – Gorna Oriahovitsa – Varna.
SURROUNDING AREAS
The village of Grivnitsa is situated at a distance of 6 km. east of the town. During the war of Liberation the population of the village and region take active participation. A mausoleum in memory of the killed Romenian soldiers. It is located amongst a spacious park with a lot of monuments. One can go there from the town by train or bus.
The town of Pordim is situated at the distance of 21 km. to the east of Pleven. The General Headquarters of the Russian army and of Emperor Alexander the 2 th was located here during the war of Liberation. There is another museum – “Rumanian soldier 1877 – 1878”. A regular bus may reach it, too.
A green zone was built up around Pleven about 25 thousand decares, involving the parks of: “Kailuka”, “General Lavrov”, “General Genetski” and others.
The village of Vulchi Tran is situated at the distance of 22 km. south – east of Pleven, in which the
Valchitran gold treasure was found in 1924. In the town of Dolni Dupnik at the distance of 15 km. to the west of Pleven with a lot of monuments from Pleven Epopee. It is the greatest oil field deposit in Bulgaria, natural gas is yielded here too. There are three lakes in its surroundings. They are a favorite place for recreation, water motor sports, water tourism and fishing.
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