The town of Lovech (44 262 inhabitants, about
200 meters altitude) is located along the two banks of the Ossam River
in a very picaresque way just where the last heights of the Fore-Balkan
end.
The historic stock of Lovech comes from the Melta
Roman road station on the major road from the Danube River to the Mediterranean
Sea. Its Medieval living was one of a military center and up to XI century
the town's name was Lovyts /in translation - a town of hunters/. During
XII century houses were built on the right bank of the Ossam River,
at present - the Varosha quarter. At the time of the Turnovo uprising
(the Assen brothers) the town was an unconquerable fortress, it sustained
a three-month siege and Byzantium had to conclude the so-called Lovech
peace (1187), set the beginning of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The
name Lovech dates from that time.
In XIII, and especially in XIV century Lovech is
one of the biggest towns and castles in Northern Bulgaria and reaches
a noteworthy economic situation but it gradually declines ever since.
During the two centuries of national and spiritual
revival /XVIII and XIX century/ the town is booming again and it is
called Altun (Turkish - Golden) Lovech. The bright craftsmen and merchants
travel around the whole Ottoman Empire.
From here, in 1839 the battle starts for clerical
independence; in 1846 the first schools are open. The great educator
and poet Petko Slaveykov is one of the teachers here. Thirst for knowledge
establishes the first cultural center in 1870 in which two years later
Angel Kanchev leads the first theatre play.
In the end of 1869 Vasil Levski establishes the
local revolutionary committee and selects Lovech for the center of Bulgarian
revolution. On July 17, 1877 Lovech is liberated by the Russian armies
but ten days later the Turks capture it again to kill over 2500 Bulgarians
in the town and its surroundings. Lovech is really free since 3.09.1877. The Covered bridge over the Ossam River is
among the greatest sights of Lovech. The bridge, just like the people
of Lovech, has its own tragic history. It was built three times - first
- out of wood and taken away by the river; then Kolyo Ficheto built
it covered, with small stores along both sides but in 1925, it was destroyed
by fire. Similar to it the Lovech people build the today bridge - a
beautiful one, with shops and stores, the river murmuring beneath and
telling stories of the past.
Over 160 restored houses in the Varosha Architectural
- historical reserve are amazing examples of Renaissance architecture.
There are also the houses - museums of Vasil Levski and his followers
Marin Pop Lukanov, Ivan Drasov and Todor Kirkov. The Art Gallery is on Vasil Levski Street.
The citizens of Lovech have incorporated their esteem to the heroes
in some memorials of Vasil Levski and of Russian soldiers. The Stratesh Park is the town's pride - picaresque
nature, a Zoo, memorials and remains from a Medieval Bulgarian castle
attract tourists especially in May when the lilacs cover it with a scent
of spring. At that time the Lilac Music Days of Lovech are held.
On the outskirts of the town where the way for Troyan
is, the Bash Bunar Park is located. There are smaller and bigger
caves in the rocky banks of the Ossam river. In two of them - Vasil
Levski and the Tabak Caves bones and articles were found dating back
to the Paleolithic and the Bronze era. The Staro Stefanovo architectural reserve
( 20 km south east from Lovech) offers over 100 cultural monuments from
the beginning and the middle of XIX century. The first time the village
was mentioned under the name Isvote was in chronicles of Nikopol district
(1515). Its Ancient-Bulgarian origin has been historically proved -
it is one of the most ancient settlements in the region.
It is interesting for the curious visitor to see
the 1300-year old oak tree, the Holy Mother's Birth church (1864) built
by Master Gencho Kanchev from Tryavna, the village fountain (1830) and
the Priest's bridge (1824). The village is as well the birthplace of
Ivanaki Yonkov Kurkchiyata, one of the leaders of the Velcho Plot against
the Ottoman Empire who was hanged by the Turkish in 1836. In its surroundings,
there are several Thracian barrows.
Seventeen kilometers away from Lovech is the Kukrina
small inn where the Apostle of the Bulgarian liberty Vasil Levski was
captured on 26.12.1872.
Hotels
Hotel "Lovetch"*** - 184 beds
Hotel "Orbita"* - 30 beds
Hotel "Tsariana""** - 30 beds
Hotel "Oazis"** - 10 beds
Guesthouse "Varosha"** - 7 beds
Tourist information:
Tourist information centre
2, Vasil Karakonovski Str. - Lovech
Tel. + 359 68/ 604 218
e-mail: otic@abv.bg
Useful information:
The town
code for dialling from within the country is 068,
from abroad - + 359 68
Bus station - 603 618
Railway Station - 2 49 35