Ruins of a little late-Roman fortress, part of the defense system of the Romans in nowadays Northern Bulgaria, archaeologists have found by excavations in Svalenik village.

The fortress was raised in IV Century as a watch fortification, controlling the road in the River Valley of Malki Lom River.
For now archaeologist revealed the south wall and two inner rooms of the fortress.
The finds- coins and pottery- give a reason to claim the fortress had survived after the big Huns and Goths invasions in the V century, but as an already fortified settlement of agriculture population.
Some objects, especially ceramic pottery and arrow gads shows life here proceeded through the period of Second Bulgarian kingdom.

source: news.bg

Lovech is one of the most enchanting towns in Bulgaria. It is located in the north part of the Stara Planina Mountain region, on both shores of Osum River.

It initially sprung as a Thracian settlement that turned into a traveler’s center located on a major Roman road. During the Middle Ages, the Lovech fortress was used as a strategic fortification in northern Bulgaria. A three-month siege ended in a peace treaty between the Bulgarian rulers Asen and Petur and the Byzantine ruler. This treaty marks the establishment of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

During the revival period, Lovech acted as a craftsmen meeting point. Lovech merchants traveled throughout the empire and the town prospered. It was often called Altun (golden) Lovech. Many revival activists and revolutionaries acted in Lovech. Some of them are Vassil Levski, Angel Kunchev, P.R. Slaveikov.

Today, Lovech is a picturesque town that has many landmarks to show to visitors. The Lovech fortress is the most important historic remain. The remains can be seen on the right river shore, on the hill of Hissarya.

Varosha residential district is another well-known attraction. The district has been named architecture and historic preserve. It features more than 160 renovated houses that were constructed in the 70s of the 19th century. Lovech traditional houses have their distinct architectural style. The front part of the house faces the yard, while the back side is turned towards the street. The owners of most of these renovated houses live there.

The covered bridge of Lovech also deserves its fame. The bridge is one of the four such constructions in Europe. Accidents led to the destruction of the bridge several times. Initially it was wooden but a river overflow damaged it. Kolio Ficheto constructed the second bridge. The unique construction is 84 m long. The covered part hosts more than 20 shops.

A conflagration in the 20s of the 20th century destroyed the bridge for the second time. The third reconstruction occurred in the 80s. Some of the old bridge foundations were used. Its initial looks were preserved but the new bridge turned out to be 20 meters longer than the work of Kolio Ficheto.

Stratesh, the town’s park, is among the most beautiful Loech features. Locals set up the park on their own. Many alleys allow peaceful walks, the park has a small lake and the second biggest zoo in Bulgaria.

A museum and a monument have been dedicated to the revolutionary Vassil Levski. The monument in Lovech is probably one of the tallest statues of Levski in the country.

Bash Bounar alley will take you for a walk on the left shore of the river. The nature and calmness attract lovers of secluded and relaxing activities.

During May, Lovech turns into a lilac city because of the many flowering bushes. The lilac music days take place at that time.

The town of Veliki Preslav is situated on either banks of the Ticha River shortly before it flows into the Golyama Kamchia River. It is 365 km north-east of Sofia.
Veliki Preslav was the second capital of Danubian Bulgaria. Its imposing ruins are to be found 2 km south of the present day town. Veliki Preslav was the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom from 893 till 969 in the epoch of its supreme might and in the boom of Old Bulgarian culture (the so called Golden Age).
Preslav is a pure Bulgarian name coming from “preslavun” (famous, most glorious), and the name Veliki was added when the capital turned into a really huge and representative town for its time. The old Bulgarian capital occupied a territory of 3.5 sq. km. In the course of 28 years it was built on and improved by Tsar Simeon the Great, one of the most educated European rulers, an exceptional statesman, soldier and man of letters (a disciple of the Magnaur School in Constantinopol). He made Preslav the most majestic town in the whole of south-eastern Europe second only to the capital of Byzantium. For comparison, the population of London in 10th century was hardly fifteen thousand people, Paris had still not developed as a city, Madrid was a village, and Berlin and Moscow did not yet exist.
There have been preserved remains of fortress walls, palaces, civil ensembles, workshops, public baths, and water pipe systems. The most precious building in Veliki Preslav in the past (as well as a sight today) was the Round (Golden) Church built in 908.

Solishta  is a small village situated 5 km south of village Shiroka Luka, in the hearth of the beautiful Rodopi mountain.The ruins of an ancient monastery complex and the ruins of Second Bulgarian Kingdom fortresses named “Gradisheto” and “Tourlata” lie near by.
Above the village is the natural site called “Chernoka” where a group of more than 300 years old Black pine trees can be seen.