Lovech Ловеч
Lovech town
Coat of arms
Lovech Location of Lovech
Coordinates: 43°08′05″N 24°43′02″E / 43.13472°N 24.71722°E / 43.13472; 24.71722Coordinates: 43°08′05″N 24°43′02″E / 43.13472°N 24.71722°E / 43.13472; 24.71722
Country	Bulgaria
Province (Oblast)	Lovech
Government
• Mayor	Mincho Kazandzhiev
Elevation	200 m (700 ft)
Population (Census February 2011)[1]
• City	36,296
• Urban	49,181
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	5500
Area code(s)	068

Lovech (Bulgarian: Ловеч) is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011.^[1] It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia. Near Lovech are the towns of Pleven, Troyan and Teteven.

Geography[link]

Lovech is situated in the Forebalkan area of northern Bulgaria, on both sides of the river Osam, and unifies both mountainous and plain relief. The eastern part of the town is surrounded by a 250 m high plateau, where the largest park in Lovech, Stratesh, is located, and the southwestern part is surrounded by the hills Hisarya and Bash Bunar. In the northwest the relief gradually changes to the plains of the neighbouring Pleven Province. The average altitude of Lovech is about 200 m above mean sea level. The highest point of the town is Akbair Hill at 450 m.

Lovech has a beautiful location, with many parks and places to rest. In Stratesh Park, the highest place in the town, there are a great number of lilac bushes, easily seen from the whole town, which are a wonderful view in the spring. Due to this, Lovech is well known as the town of the lilacs.

Population[link]

During the first decade after the liberation of Bulgaria, in the 1880s the population of Lovech numbered about 7,000.^[2] Since then it started growing decade by decade, mostly because of the migrants from the rural areas and the surrounding smaller towns, with a peak in the period 1987-1991 when exceeded 50,000 residents.^[3] After this time, the population has started decreasing rapidly in consequence of the poor economic situation in the Bulgarian provinces during the 1990s that leaded to a new migration in the direction of the country capital Sofia and abroad.

History[link]

Ancient history[link]

Lovech is one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria. Traces of human activities from very ancient times were found in the region, mainly in the caves near the town. The reason was the comfortable location between the mountains and the flat country, and the presence of a river.

The first inhabitants of the town were the Thracian tribe of the Meldi^{[citation needed]}, whose traces date as back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC. They founded their capital, called Melta^{[citation needed]}, in the area, which was situated at the place of today's neighbourhood and architecture reserve Varosha. Later, when the Balkans were occupied by the Roman Empire, a military station called Prezidium was founded near the modern town, which was situated at an important strategic position on one of the main Roman roads. Parts of this road are to be seen in the territory of Lovech today.

Middle Ages[link]

The former Roman citadel Hisarya, which is situated on the hill of the same name, was the place where in 1187 the peace treaty between the Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire was signed and the returning of Bulgaria on the European map was officially declared, marking the beginning of the Second Bulgarian Empire. In the 12th century Lovech was a great trade centre and one of the most famous towns in Bulgaria.

Plan of the medieval fortress of Lovech

The Turkish invasion in the middle of the 14th century did not pass the town, but the Hisarya fortress was captured last of all, in 1446, although for a long time after that the town enjoyed some privileges such as a prohibition on Turkish people to settle in the town or to take Bulgarian children as janissaries.

Ottoman rule[link]

In the 17th century Lovech (Lofça in Turkish) was once again an important trade centre and one of the richest towns in Bulgaria, a reason for the town being called Altan Lovech (Golden Lovech, from Turkish) at the time.

In the times of revolutionary organisations against the Ottoman rule, Lovech was the centre of operations of the Internal Revolutionary Organisation of Vasil Levski, called the Secret Revolutionary Committee. He was arrested by the Turkish military in a village near Lovech called Kakrina and later hanged in Sofia. The biggest museum of Vasil Levski in Bulgaria containing many personal items such as notebooks, clothes and weapon is situated in the old town part of Lovech.

Between 1872 and 1874, the Bulgarian master-builder Nikola Fichev, known also as Kolyu Ficheto, built the famous Covered Bridge (Покрит мост) over the river Osam, the only one of its kind in the Balkans. The bridge was burned out in 1925, but rebuilt in 1931. Now it connects the new and the old part of the town and it's full of cafes, small restaurants and many souvenir shops.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, an important battle was held at Lovech, known as the Battle of Lovcha. Many Turkish families were expelled by the Russian army and the Muslims of Lovech known to be "Lofçalılar" have immigrated to several parts of Turkey (mainly Istanbul, Edirne and Bursa).

Modern time[link]

In more recent times, Lovech was the place where modern foreign language education in Bulgaria started. Taking over from the American college established there in 1881, the first foreign language school in Bulgaria was set up in Lovech in 1950. Initially three languages were taught in this school: English, French and German. However soon after that the teaching of English and French was moved to Sofia and Varna respectively, founding the first language schools in these cities: the First English Language School in Sofia in 1954 and the French Language School in Varna in 1958. Since for the period 1959-1984 German was the only language taught, the school in Lovech was informally known as The German School (Немската гимназия).

Economy[link]

On April 9, 2009, Great Wall Motor and the Bulgarian company Litex Motors signed a contract for building a production base that would manufacture three models of the Chinese manufacturer near Lovech. The new plant was opened on February 21, 2012.

The investment is worth around 97 million euros and will create 2,000 new jobs over the first four years. It will be Great Wall Motor's gate of entering the European Union market, thanks to the zero tariff levels.^[7]

Main sights[link]

The Covered Bridge connecting the two parts of town.

Buildings along the Osam

• The Tinkov house
• The Covered Bridge by Kolyu Ficheto
• The monument of Vasil Levski
• The monuments to Russian soldiers killed in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78
• The Varosha old town part
• Stratesh Park with the biggest zoo in the province
• Bash Bunar Park
• The baroque buildings in the town's central parts
• The Varosha architectural and historical reserve, with Drasova and Rashova memorial houses

Theatres[link]

• Lovech Drama Theatre
• Theatre by the Nauka Community Centre
• The summer theatre in Stratesh Park

Museums[link]

• Museum of Vasil Levski
• Lovech Historical Museum
• Drasova Memorial House
• Rashova Memorial House
• Saint Kliment Ohridski School

Sports[link]

• PFC Litex Lovech, one of Bulgaria's top football clubs
• Osam, a men's handball club
• Lovech '98, a women's handball club
• Eagles, a baseball club
• A wrestling club
• A kyokushin karate club
• Progress, a chess club
• Fencing club

Famous people[link]

• Ahmed Cevdet Paşa — Circumcised male, Turks of Bulgaria, Historian, Lawer
• Hüseyin Hilmi Işık — Circumcised male, Turks of Bulgaria, Turkish, Sunni Islamic Scholar
• Joseph I of Bulgaria — Bulgarian exarch
• Georgi Ivanov — the first Bulgarian cosmonaut
• Dimitar Dimov — Bulgarian author
• Simeon Djankov — economist
• Anastas Ishirkov — noted geographer
• Benyo Tsonev — important figure of Bulgarian linguistics
• Todor Kirkov — revolutionary
• Hristo Karpachev — poet, partisan
• Panayot Pipkov — composer
• Lyubomir Pipkov — composer
• Sylvia Zareva — editor
• Haci Adil Arda — Circumcised male, Turks of Bulgaria, Politician in the Ottoman Empire

Events[link]

• Lovech RockFest
• Lovech MusicFest
• Lovech PartyFest

Partner towns[link]

• Erfurt, Germany, since 1971 (East Germany until 1990)
• Ryazan, Russia, since 1964 (Soviet Union until 1991)

Honour[link]

Melta Point on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the ancient Melta.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Central Lovech

• 

  Central Lovech

• 

  Bulgarian National Revival quarter, Varosha

• 

  The Hisarya Fortress

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References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lovech

• Site about Lovech in Bulgarian, English and Spanish
• Lovech Today News
• Lovech News - News from Lovech
• Lovech Party Fest Fan Site
• Tourist information and accommodation
• Guide to Lovech district — cities, villages, resorts
• All about the town and the municipality of Lovech
• Article at Visit to Bulgaria
• A large article about Lovech with many pictures at BulgarianProperties.com
• Pictures from Lovetch
• Ezikovata — the oldest foreign language school in Bulgaria, unofficial web site
• Lovech on youtube
• Неофициален сайт на град Ловеч
• News and information from Lovech and area, business navigator, pictures from Lovech

v t e Cities and towns of Bulgaria 1,000,000+ Sofia (capital) 300,000+ Plovdiv Varna 100,000+ Burgas Pleven Ruse Stara Zagora 50,000+ Asenovgrad Blagoevgrad Dobrich Gabrovo Haskovo Pazardzhik Pernik Sliven Shumen Veliko Tarnovo Vratsa Yambol 20,000+ Aytos Botevgrad Dimitrovgrad Dupnitsa Gorna Oryahovitsa Karlovo Kardzhali Kazanlak Kyustendil Lom Lovech Montana Nova Zagora Petrich Razgrad Samokov Sandanski Sevlievo Silistra Smolyan Svishtov Targovishte Troyan Velingrad Vidin 10,000+ Balchik Bankya Bansko Berkovitsa Byala, Rousse Province Byala Slatina Cherven Bryag Chirpan Elhovo Etropole Gotse Delchev Harmanli Ihtiman Isperih Karnobat Kavarna Knezha Kostinbrod Kozloduy Kubrat Levski Mezdra Momchilgrad Nesebar Novi Iskar Novi Pazar Panagyurishte Parvomay Pavlikeni Peshtera Pomorie Popovo Provadiya Radnevo Radomir Rakovski Razlog Stamboliyski Svilengrad Teteven 5,000+ Aksakovo Ardino Belene Belogradchik Beloslav Bobov Dol Chepelare Dalgopol Devin Devnya Dolni Chiflik Dragoman Dryanovo Dulovo Dzhebel Elena Elin Pelin Galabovo General Toshevo Hisarya Kameno Koynare Kostenets Kotel Krichim Krumovgrad Kuklen Lukovit Lyubimets Lyaskovets Madan Nedelino Omurtag Oryahovo Perushtitsa Pirdop Polski Trumbesh Rakitovo Saedinenie Septemvri Simeonovgrad Simitli Slivnitsa Sopot Sredets Straldzha Strazhitsa Suvorovo Svoge Tervel Topolovgrad Tryavna Tsarevo Tutrakan Tvarditsa Varshets Vetovo Veliki Preslav Yakoruda Zlatitsa Zlatograd Under 5,000 Ahtopol Alfatar Antonovo Apriltsi Balgarovo Batak Batanovtsi Belitsa Belovo Boboshevo Bolyarovo Borovo Boychinovtsi Bozhurishte Bratsigovo Bregovo Breznik Brusartsi Byala, Varna Province Byala Cherkva Chiprovtsi Debelets Dimovo Dobrinishte Dolna Banya Dolna Mitropoliya Dolna Oryahovitsa Dolni Dubnik Dospat Dunavtsi Dve Mogili Glavinitsa Glodzhevo Godech Gramada Gulyantsi Gurkovo Hadzhidimovo Iskar Ivaylovgrad Kableshkovo Kalofer Kaolinovo Kaspichan Kermen Kilifarevo Kiten Klisura Kocherinovo Koprivshtitsa Kostandovo Kresna Krivodol Kula Laki Letnitsa Loznitsa Madzharovo Maglizh Malko Turnovo Marten Melnik Merichleri Miziya Momin Prohod Nikolaevo Nikopol Obzor Opaka Pavel Banya Plachkovtsi Pliska Pordim Pravets Primorsko Rila Roman Rudozem Sadovo Sapareva Banya Sarnitsa Senovo Shabla Shipka Shivachevo Slavyanovo Slivo Pole Smyadovo Sozopol Strelcha Suhindol Sungurlare Sveti Vlas Tran Trastenik Tsar Kaloyan Ugarchin Vetren Valchedram Valchi Dol Varbitsa Yablanitsa Zavet Zemen Zlataritsa

v t e Municipality of Lovech Capital: Lovech Villages Ablanitsa Aleksandrovo Bahovitsa Brestovo Balgarene Chavdartsi Goran Gorno Pavlikene Gostinya Devetaki Doyrentsi Drenov Dabrava Hlevene Izvorche Yoglav Kazachevo Lisets Malinovo Prelom Presyaka Radyuvene Skobelevo Slavyani Slatina Slivek Smochan Sokolovo Stefanovo Tepava Umarevtsi Vladinya Landmarks Covered Bridge Osam river Culture Battle of Lovcha Litex Lovech Radyuvene treasure Notable people Joseph I of Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov Dimitar Dimov Simeon Djankov Panayot Pipkov Petar Houbchev