Lovech and the Troyan Balkan

Historical memories and a Renaissance artistry in beautiful scenery

All known lords and rulers of the Bulgarian lands have left their mark on the historical town of Lovech. The area has been inhabited since ancient times. Romans highly appreciated the abundant natural resources and its strategic location, too and founded a military station there – Prezidium. Historical legacies can be seen all over the city, but most have a noticeable presence in the architectural reserve "Varosha" – the so called “Old town”, with numerous authentic Renaissance buildings. The fortress - a majestic medieval construction from the second half of XIX century - towers over the Varosha old town part. The unique Covered bridge – the only one of its kind in the Balkans - was built between the 1872-1874 by the prominent Master-builder Kolyu Ficheto. The pedestrian attraction crosses the Osam River, connecting the old ("Varosha") and new town parts of Lovech. Multiple shops, cafes and restaurants along the bridge put another antique finishing touch to its overall look.

 

The Ethnographic collection of Drasova Memorial house, Rashova Memorial house, House of Cheshneto, Regional Historical Museum, Old Square "Todor Kirkov", the churches "St. Nedelya "- the oldest in the city, and" St. Mary "- a national cultural monument, the Alley of astronauts and many other local sights can culturally and historically enrich your stay in Lovech .

 

The "National Revival and Liberation Movement" Museum keeps one of the largest collections of Vasil Levski’s personal belongings. Nearby, in the village of Kakrina, 17 km from Lovech is the eponymous inn – one of the proverbial places, associated with the Bulgarian revolutionary movement. It is well- known that the “Apostle of Freedom” Vasil Levski (“the Deacon”) stayed there many times and was captured by the Turkish gendarmes at the very same place. Today, the building is restored by Bulgarian patriots. There’s a hedge, similar to the one Levski tried to jump over in his capture and a monument to the Apostle. "The Monastery of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God” or as, it is more commonly called the Troyan Monastery, also repeatedly hosted the dedicated fighter for freedom. The interior of the room where he stayed has undergone a reconstruction. Founded around the 1600’s, the Monastery today keeps frescoes and icons of the famous Renaissance master Zahari  Zograf.

 

The footsteps of the Deacon quietly reveal the very soul of the Troyan Balkan, a place he often crawled, implementing the plans for the Liberation of Bulgaria. Even a brief overview of the places around Lovech and Troyan gives us a clear idea - nature was quite generous with the region, as well- many reserves keep a vast diversity of animal and plant species. One cannot remain indifferent to "Devetashka cave." That’s no ordinary cave, but an exceptional and enchanting place, with a mysterious and secretive spirit and fascinating views that leaves its visitors impressed and amazed. In addition to that, knowing that the cave was inhabited for centuries – from Antiquity to Roman times, makes it even more valuable. The famous Kroushouna Waterfalls truly enchant with their cascading waters, infusing from one waterfall to the other and the beautiful surroundings. It’s the largest water cascade of the type in the country. With its exotic landscape, many thresholds, pools and basins, the diversity of animal species and vegetation it has been attracting more and more tourists.

 

The Troyan Balkan is quite a picturesque place with its beautiful scenery, fresh air, numerous mineral springs, traditions and customs of local generations. Troyan takes pride in its rich history and is famous for the handicrafts developed for generations. Nowadays we can literally touch the Revival Art mastery of coppersmiths, blacksmiths, furriers, cap makers and others, thanks to the “Museum of National crafts and applied arts”. The National Fair is in the nearby village of Oreshak - an exhibition of traditional artisans. It presents the works of contemporary master craftsmen and applied arts experts from across the country and abroad. The Villages Shipkovo and Chiflik are known for the mineral springs. The resort “Beklemeto” offers excellent conditions for winter tourism and is a starting point for many hiking routes around the picturesque Troyan Balkan.

View the Sites

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    Ascension Church, the village of Shipkovo

    Built in the years of the Ottoman rule, the church in the Troyan village of Shipkovo is one of those buildings, whose form doesn’t follow function.

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    The Covered bridge of Lovech

    Unique for the Balkan Peninsula

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    Fortress "Hissarya"

    The Medieval fortress "Hissarya" is located in the southern part of Lovech, on a picturesque hill.

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    Troyan Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, village of Oreshak

    Troyan Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the third largest sanctuary in Bulgaria, is situated at the northern foothills of the Balkan Mountains, near the village of Oreshak, on the banks of Cherni Osam River.

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    "Arch of Freedom" Monument, Goraltepe Mount

    Climbing Goraltepe Mount in the Beklemeto area is another check box on every traveler’s must-visit list. It’s well worth it for many reasons.

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    St. Paraskeva Church, Troyan

    The Church of St. Paraskeva is dedicated to the divine protector and patron saint of Troyan.

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    Sostra Fortress, the village of Lomets

    The Sostra Fortress, situated in the Osam River valley, was cleverly built blending in with its surroundings near the Troyan village of Lomets.

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    Varosha Architectural and Historical Reserve

    Walking across Varosha is like walking into a labyrinth of narrow streets which converge to create comfortable recesses with shady corners and areas. Even today this romantic setting emanates peace, cosiness and safety.