ABOUT THE TOWN OF LOVECH
The town of Lovech has 49 269 inhabitants and is settled at about 200 meters above the sea level. The town is located at the distance of 170 km. to the north – west of
Sofia, at the distance of 35 km. to the south of
Pleven, at the distance of 35 km. to the north of
Troyan, and at the distance of 86 km. to the west of
Veliko Tarnovo. Lovech is one of the oldest and most interesting Bulgarian towns. It is regional center.
HISTORY
Lovech is one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. Its territory and surroundings have been inhabited ever since the remote past, a prerequisite for which is the favorable geographic situation between the mountain and the plain.
The ancient town has been built up on the ruins of the Thracian town Melta, which has probably been the capital of the Thracian tribe meldi and has played the role of an exchange road station between the Thracian tribes, that inhabited the today Romania, the valley of
Maritsa River and the
Rhodopes. During the Middle Ages Lovech is an important military strategic center. The first notice for Lovech fortress in our history is from the time of the invasions of the pechenegs in Northern Bulgaria - the middle of XI century. During the rebellion of the brothers Asen and Petar in 1185 it bravely defends the attacks towards the Bulgarian capital
Tarnovo.
In the beginning of XII century it has already become a big commercial center, famous all over Bulgaria. According to some authors Lovech fortress is one of the last fortresses which have fallen under Turkish yoke - in1446, but even then it has preserved significant rights - not to provide shelter to Turkish people in the town, not to give children to the janissary corpus, it also keeps its right to collect taxes for the goods, passing through the town.
Due to its possessions the town has been named “Altan” (Golden) in 1520. From 1780 till 1784 Lovech develops rapidly. In1784 it is besieged and burnt by the invaders. In 1877 its citizens are 4600. By this way the center of trade is transferred from
Plovdiv to
Rousse and
Svishtov and Lovech loses its privileged position.
During the years the town developed not only as a commercial, but as an important educational and cultural center as well. The people of Lovech participated actively in the struggles for an independent Bulgarian church. During the most difficult years of the ottoman yoke in “Varosha” the churches “St. Nedelya” and “St.Virgin Mary,” have been built.
During the Russian-Turkish war Lovech has been liberated twice with the assistance of the Russian armies. The final victory over the conquerors is gained on 22 August 1877. After the Liberation the Turkish people deport themselves, and some of the Bulgarians as well. During the first 22 years of liberated Bulgaria Lovech is a regional center of the following counties Lovech,
Troyan and
Teteven.
Today Lovech is a beautiful and modern town, which carefully keeps the atmosphere of the previous century.
LANDMARKS
The museum activity in the town of Lovech leads its beginning from 28 of February 1895. Then in Lovech cultural club “Nauka” a museum collection of 570 exponents is opened - a donation from the citizens. In 1969
“Varosha” residential area is pronounced for an architectural and historic reserve. With its peculiar people's architecture from the Revival epoch it is a preferred place for recreation by the citizens and the visitors of the town of Lovech.
Landmark in the town of Lovech is the
Monument of Vasil Levski. The 14-meters monument is erected on 27 May 1965 in “Varosha” residential area, next to
Hisarya fortress. Another landmark in the town is the
Museum Vasil Levski. Established on 19 of February 1954. A backbone of the exposition is the richest in the country collection of Levski’s personal belongings - fake Turkish stamps, receipts, a sword, a dagger and an original portrait from 1870.
You can also visit
Ethnographic complex with its expositions:
- Exposition “Drasova house”. Established in 1973. It presents the life style of a rich commercial family from the end of ХІХ - the beginning of ХХ century. The West-European influence is represented.
- Exposition “Rashova house”. Established in 1983. It presents the organization of a house of an intelligent person from the town of Lovech from the 30s and the 40s of ХХ century.
Another landmark in the town of Lovech is the
Museum building and art gallery in “Varosha” residential area. The building is located in the old part of the town of Lovech – in the architectural and historic reserve “Varosha” residential area. The residential area is in a proximity to the center of the town, which is on the other side of
Osam river, connected with a monumental pedestrian bridge. The sight is right beyond Stratesh hill, at the historical square “Todor Kirkov” and to the only covered bridge on the Balkan peninsula.
SURROUNDING AREAS
The reserve
Steneto is located in the spring area of
Cherni osam river and it occupies an area of 3578.8 ha. In 1983 the spring county is proclaimed a buffer zone of the reserve
Steneto, one of the largest reserves in our country. It is entirely rich, with not changed flora and fauna.
Description
