Facts
Lovech is one of Bulgaria’s oldest settlements. The town was founded on the ruins of the Thracian Melta settlement and the Roman city of Presidium. The “Hisaria” fortress was built during the First Bulgarian Empire (681-1018). Here, in 1187, a peace treaty was signed between Bulgaria and Byzantium, marking the beginning of the Second Bulgarian Empire and the end of two centuries of Byzantine domination of Bulgarian lands.
The “Hisaria” Lovech fortress was one of the last to be conquered during the Ottoman invasion.
The old town
The old town of Lovech – “Varosha” – is home to the ethnographic complex and the “Vasil Levski” house museum. Lovech is known as the center of Vasil Levski’s (1837 – 1873) revolutionary organization in his struggle for liberation from Ottoman domination. Varosha’s narrow, cobbled streets and authentic atmosphere transport us back in time. In the upper part of the old town are the ruins of the Hissaria fortress, with the Vasil Levski monument standing next to them.
Covered Bridge, Lovech
Covered bridge, Lovech The Lovech covered bridge is one of the town’s symbols and one of the region’s most popular attractions.
Built by Koliu Fitcheto between 1874 and 1876, it was 10 meters wide and 84 meters long, with a stone foundation and wooden structure. It housed 64 stores and was decorated with sculptures.
After a fire in 1925, it was rebuilt in concrete and iron, then renovated to resemble the original. This bridge links the new town to the old town, and houses stores and cafés overlooking the Osam River.
The covered bridge was decorated with four sculptures: a lion, a two-headed eagle, a woman’s bust and a staff with a mace. Today, only the lion figure remains.
Hisarya Fortress, Lovech
The Lovech Fortress, located on Hisar Hill, is one of the city’s major attractions. Listed as an architectural monument in 1967, it dates back to the Copper Age. Rebuilt in Roman times, it is famous for the peace treaty signed with Byzantium in 1187.
The fortress, protected by steep slopes and a stone wall, houses the remains of seven churches and various historical artifacts. Conquered by the Ottomans in 1446, it offers a breathtaking view of Lovech.
Lovech Zoo
Lovech Zoo, Bulgaria’s second-largest zoo, is located in the 110-hectare “Stratesh” park.
It is home to 420 animals of 74 species, including exotic and rare specimens such as the polar bear, the Siberian tiger and the Amur leopard. The zoo, with its natural forests and playgrounds, is a popular place of relaxation for visitors from all over Bulgaria.
Ethnographic Museum, Lovech
The Lovech Ethnographic Museum, located in the adjacent Drasova and Rashova houses in Varosha’s old quarter, offers an authentic insight into the daily life of local families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Drasova house, built in the first half of the 19th century, recreates the atmosphere of a wealthy merchant family, with original exhibits owned by local families.
Features of the typical Lovech house and large wine vats in the basement. The Rashova house, built in 1835, belonged to Nencho Rashev, politician and cultural activist, who bequeathed it to the Historical Museum. It depicts a middle-class family of the 1930s and 1940s, with mannequins dressed in period clothing and demonstrations of handicrafts.
Both houses feature a variety of styles, from traditional Bulgarian furniture to Western influences, and include Rashev’s personal items, such as his library and musical instruments. The museum also offers informative documents and souvenirs.
Vasil Levski Museum, Lovech
The “Vasil Levski” Museum is located within the architectural-historical reservation “Varosha” – Lovech’s old neighbourhood. This is one of the most popular sites related to the name and deeds of the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski, who chose Lovech to be the revolutionary capital of Bulgaria. The museum was opened on February 19, 1954, and as of 1967 the exposition is located at its current spot – the old neighbourhood of Lovech.
The exposition within the “Vasil Levski” Museum is situated on two levels and reflects the work of Vasil Levski and the Bulgarian people’s struggles for national liberation. Vasil Ivanov Kunchev – Levski is the most venerated hero in Bulgarian history. A freedom fighter, revolutionary, and promoter of equality, he was one of the primary ideologists and organisers of the struggles for national liberation in the XIX century.
The Museum also holds the most extensive collection of Levski’s personal belongings in Bulgaria. Here you can see his sword, dagger, small printing press, fake Turkish stamps, receipts. The museum also hosts an original portrait of Vasil Levski from 1870.Among the exhibits are also the belongings of the Apostle’s associates and followers in Lovech, of participants in the April Rebellion (1876) and the Liberation War (1877 – 1878).
Stratesh park, Lovech
one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful urban parks, covers 1,000 hectares in the northeastern part of Lovech. Named after the hill Stratesh, referred to by Felix Kanitz as the “Great Mountain”, it includes a 2-hectare lake, playgrounds and the Lovech Zoo.
The park is also famous for the White Monument, surrounded by trees planted by cosmonauts on the “Union 33” space mission in 1979. The Bulgarian-Russian and Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship Alley, built in 1977, symbolizes the strengthened ties of friendship between Bulgaria and the Soviet Union on the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Lovech.
Visitors can stroll along this walkway and access other memorable parts of the park, while enjoying the historical and natural wealth of the area. Stratesh Park remains a place of pride for the people of Lovech, combining history, nature and a unique tribute to space exploration.
Bash Bunar park, Lovech
Bash Bounar Park, which runs for two kilometers along the left bank of the Osam River, is a popular leisure spot with its fragrant trees and flowers. Created in 1908, it features a fountain, sculptures and a monument to its founder, Nikola Vedenkov.
The park’s abundant vegetation makes for a refreshing stroll in summer. The park has a rich history, celebrated in Bulgarian folk song.
The Devetashka cave
Devetashka grotto is located 18 km north of Lovech and 2 km from the village of Devetaki.
The cave is famous for its seven different-sized holes in the ceiling, through which light penetrates and illuminates the central hall and part of its two branches, forming a spacious hall with an area of 2,400 square meters. Devetashka cave is one of the three most important underground bat habitats in Europe.
Devetashka cave is a unique natural and cultural phenomenon, attracting inhabitants since ancient times thanks to its good living conditions, proximity to the Osam River, and fertile soil. Protected for its national and international importance, it was seriously studied in the 1950s.
Research shows that it was inhabited almost continuously from the Middle Stone Age (70,000 BC) to the Neolithic (6000 – 4000 BC), offering rich cultural remains from various periods.
The Kakrina Inn
The Kakrina Inn, 16 km from Lovech, is the historic site where Vasil Levski was captured in 1872. Restored in 1931 after a fire at the beginning of the 20th century, the inn recreates the atmosphere of the time, with a museum located in the center of the village. In the courtyard, a historic elm tree and a monument to Levski commemorate his arrest. The inn is a key site among Bulgaria’s 100 national tourist attractions.
Krushuna waterfalls
The Krushouna waterfalls are among the most attractive in the country. Located 35 km north-west of the town of Lovech, in Maarata. For the convenience of tourists, these amazing charms can be reached very easily.
A charming path saturated with luminous colors starts from the village of Kroushouna. You can even reach the unique spot where the natural landmark originates.
The Krushouna waterfalls are made up of numerous karst terraces. The continuous flow of the water mass has formed numerous sills of small rocks and irregularities. The terrain is dotted with small lakes and pools that are so clear and clean that you can look into them as into a mirror.
At its highest point (20 metres), the waterfall bursts into numerous smaller rivers and streams. This makes it the largest limestone waterfall in the country.
In 1995 the Krushouna waterfalls were declared a protected site, in order to preserve this magnificent creation of nature. In the past, there was a monastery on these lands, where the Hesychast monks lived, but today only the ruins of the monastic cells are preserved.