The town of Lovech (44 262 inhabitants, about 200 meters altitude) is located at the boundary between the Danubian Plain and the northern foothills of the Balkan Range. It is situated on both sides of Ossum River, where it makes several meanders after leaving the rocky gorge. The choice of settlement location - among the hills Stratesh, Hissarya and Bash Bounar - was prompted by strategic rather than climatic considerations, as in most towns of Mediaeval origin. Lovech is an important communication center, where the main north-south and east-west roads intersect. 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 Turnovo. Lovech is one of the oldest and most interesting Bulgarian towns. It is regional center.

     History

     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 Svistov 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

     Covered Bridge is the pride of Lovech. Built up in 1874 by master Kolyu Ficheto - length 84 m, 64 small shops. On 23 of August 1925 it has been burned by a fire. It is erected again in 1927-1931 as a ferro-concrete covered bridge, reconstructed and restored several times. Today its length is 106 m.
     Hisarya Fortress was built up in the second half of IX century. A citadel of the Middle Ages town till its falling under the ottoman yoke. Here in 1187 a peaceful contract with Byzantium has been contracted and the beginning of the Second Bulgarian kingdom with a capital Tarnovo has been established.
     Historical Museum - Lovech - 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. As a result of the strenuous collective work of several generations of museum workers today in the book depositories there are more than 60 thousand exponents. Chronologically and thematically they are distributed in 4 departments: "Archeology", "History of Bulgaria XV-XIX century", "Ethnography" and "New and the newest history of Bulgaria". There are two laboratories in the museum - for restoration and conservation and photo laboratory.

     Ethnographic Museum

1. Exposition "Drasova house" - established in 1973. It presents the life style of a rich commercial family from the end of XIX - the beginning of XX century. The West-European influence is represented.
2. 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 XX century.

     Acr "Varosha" - 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.
     Stratesh Park is the town's pride. It is located on a hill of the same name in the northern part of the town of Lovech. It is built up with the volunteer help of the citizens of Lovech. The asphalt alleys curve along beautiful lakes, alleys full of flowers, decorative trees and bushes. The White and the Black monument are located in the western part of the park, as well as the Alley of the Bulgarian-Russian friendship - a memorable sign for the Russians soldiers who have died during the liberation of Lovech on 22.08.1877. In the eastern part of the park is located the second biggest zoo park in Bulgaria. It is characterized with its various animal species.
     "Bashbunar" Alley is located in the western part of Lovech, on the left river coast of Osam river, along an extent of 2 km. It is established in 1908 by Eng. Nikola Vasilev (Dimitar Pashkov's nephew). A lot of decorative bushes, rarely spread trees and flowers are planted. There are two natural water resources, modulated as splendid fountains. One of them is put in 1968, the sculptural composition "Byla Anasta", deed of the painter Boris Bachev. Hydroelectric station "Lovech" and "Yuzinata" restaurant are located here. The peculiar microclimate is particularly suitable for people with hearth and pulmonary diseases.

     Surrounding areas

     Kakrinsko Hanche is Vasil Levski's lobby place. It is located in the village of Kakrina, 20 km far from Lovech, along the road to the town of Sevlievo. It has become a museum on 10 of May 1931.
     Devetashka cave is located 18 km to the north-east of Lovech, on the right bank of Osam river. It is one of the biggest caves in Europe. The archeological excavations prove that it has been inhabited in the late Paleolithic period. The cultural layers testify that it has been inhabited during the later epochs - Neolith, Eneolith, Bronze and Iron epoch, The Middle Ages. The findings give evidence for the high material and intellectual culture of the inhabitants of the cave. Devetashka cave is a monument of culture and a natural place under protection of national and international significance.
     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.

     Transport

     Two main transport thoroughfares pass through the territory of the region- road /highway/ I - 4 (Sofia, Sevlievo, Veliko Tarnovo Shumen) and road /highway/ I - 3 (Botevgrad, Koritna, Byala). Both connect the region of Lovech with the neighboring and the other regions and with the capital city. Important transport thoroughfares for the region are: road II - 35, forming the north - south transport axis, providing the connection between the regions of Pleven and Plovdiv, through the Troyan - Karnare Balkan pass. The road network is well developed in the region of Lovech. Its total length is 1333 km. Two second-class railway sections represent the railway network: Troyan - Levski and Zlatna Panega - Cherven bryag, which are of local importance.