Pleven

Pleven is located in the very heart of Miziya, in an agricultural region, surrounded by low limestone hills near the Vit river at a distance of 174 km. east of Sofia and 35 km. north of Lovech . The town is a regional center with about 138 000 inhabitants. Its central location in Northern Bulgaria defines its importance as a large administrative, economic, political, cultural, and transport centre.

Pleven is distinguished for its rich historical heritage and marvelous nature. There are good opportunities for cultural, eco and spa tourism.

Pleven is the 7 th biggest town in Bulgaria as of the present moment.

Till nowadays Pleven town has preserved its cultural – historical heritage that make it famous as the town of museums. The earliest traces of life on these lands date back to the end of 5-th millenium BC. Numerous archeological finds show the high level of development of the Thracians who dwelled these areas. One of them is the biggest golden treasure ever discovered on the Bulgarian lands – the Valchi Tran golden treasure, consisting of 13 vessels with total weight of 12.5 kg.

During the Medieval Ages the settlement was a strong fortress with well developed crafts, trade and monetary exchange. After the 12-th century the town was ruined and set on fire several times, but after the Liberation the Bulgarian population in the town grew in number and started developing its cattle and sheep market.

Evidence for the thousand-year old history of the regional center Pleven are the numerous cultural and architectural monuments in the town.

A sight of great interest are the Regional history museum, where valuable finds from the Roman town of Ulpia eskus near the village of Gigen, from the late-antique and early Byzantine fortress Storgozia near the town of Pleven, and from the mediaeval Bulgarian fortress in Nikopol. The Pleven panorama illustrates the five-month battles during the Russian-Turkish war 1877-78.