Lovech between the Old Town and nature

In Lovech, medieval history, a striking bridge and natural attractions are at the heart of a wide range of discoveries. The fortress on the rocky Hisarya Hill, museums in the Old Town and Devetashka Cave show just how diverse the sights in and around Lovech are. You can shape your trip around culture, scenery or both.

Fortress, Old Town and Covered Bridge

The medieval fortress of Lovech extends across two terraces on the rocky Hisarya Hill in the Old Town. It is a monument of national importance and is designated as a museum and tourist reserve. A direct road connection below the rocky ridge links Stratesh Park with the old Varosha district and leads to the monument to Vasil Levski and the fortress.

Varosha is also home to the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, classified as an immovable cultural heritage site of national importance. The architectural and historical reserve encompasses the old part of the town on the eastern bank of the Osam River. It was shaped during the Bulgarian National Revival. This gives you insight into the city’s historical layout, while Lovech’s history extends beyond the fortress alone.

The Covered Bridge offers a different view of the city. Built by Kolyu Ficheto, it became a symbol of Lovech and is unique of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula. Today, it serves as a covered shopping street. Architecture, a city landmark and a present-day function come together in this structure.

Museums and local history

The two-storey exhibition at the Vasil Levski Museum covers the Bulgarian national revolutionary movement and Levski’s activities in Bulgaria. Other topics include Lovech’s private revolutionary committee, the Novosel Uprising of 1876, and the first and second liberation of Lovech during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The museum preserves 6,000 movable cultural assets and objects, including the country’s largest collection of Levski’s personal belongings.

At the Ethnographic Complex, the Drasova House and Rashova House offer a glimpse into the life of a wealthy merchant from Lovech. The objects on display include vessels used for making and storing wine. The complex is listed as site number 30 among Bulgaria’s 100 national tourist sites. The old Deli Hamam bathhouse also brings together history and a present-day visitor experience: this 16th-century architectural monument of national importance is now a virtual water attraction. Through specially designed multimedia effects and programmes, visitors learn about water.

For a view beyond the city, visit Staro Stefanovo, which is administratively linked to Lovech. The village was declared an architectural reserve in 1982, and 96 sites there are registered as cultural monuments. Tourist attractions include traditional open ovens beside two-storey houses. The Kakrina Inn is also among Bulgaria’s 100 national tourist sites.

Parkland, cave and protected nature

Stratesh Park covers 1,000 decares and includes a lake with an area of 2 decares. Lovech Zoo is also located in the park: 450 animals and birds representing 64 species live across 110 decares. The park and zoo offer different nature experiences, from the landscape to the variety of species kept there.

Devetashka Cave is located near Devetaki. It is 2,442 metres long, covers 20,400 square metres and reaches a height of 60 metres. It has three protected designations: it is an immovable cultural heritage site of national importance, a natural monument and a protected area. The cave is also listed as a bat roost of international importance and as a priority site on the list of the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS).

Trails and striking landscape views

The Bash Bunar promenade lies on the left bank of the Osam River and follows its winding course for more than two kilometres. A marked hiking trail leads east from the monument to Vasil Levski. In good weather, you can enjoy views of the Osam meander gorge, the Bash Bunar rock faces and, in the distance, the central ridge of the Balkan Mountains.

The Igla rock formation can be reached from the monument to Vasil Levski and from Stratesh Park. Climbing to its summit requires mountaineering skills; terrain conditions may vary. Another described approach to Zamyka starts at the Lovech hydroelectric power station (Yuzinata). From there, a hiking trail, marked mainly in green, leads towards Tabashka Cave. The different route descriptions help you distinguish between a scenic trail, a rock formation with a challenging summit climb and a marked route towards a cave.

When planning your trip, you can choose different priorities: Lovech’s architectural and urban history, its exhibitions and ethnographic collections, or nature and trails.

Discover more destinations: Hlevene, Brestovo, Lovech, Teteven, Ugarchin, Letnitsa, Yablanitsa, Troyan.

For the regional travel overview: Lovech Province.