Pleven - our hometown by Manuela and Temenuzhka

Pleven is one of the most beautiful cities in Pleven is one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria and the seventh largest city in the Bulgaria and the seventh largest city in the country with 123 880 inhabitants.country with 123 880 inhabitants.

. It is situated in North Bulgaria, central . It is situated in North Bulgaria, central Danubian PlainDanubian Plain. .

It is the administrative centre of the It is the administrative centre of the province and Pleven municipality and a province and Pleven municipality and a major economic centre.major economic centre.

Where is Pleven ?Where is Pleven ?

Today Pleven is Today Pleven is famous as afamous as a town of town of museums,museums,because because it has preservedit has preserved its cultur its culturalal and historical and historical heritage. The first detected traces of people inheritage. The first detected traces of people in PlevenPleven date back todate back to 50005000 B.CB.C.. Thracians inhabited the area for Thracians inhabited the area for thousands of years and thousands of years and archarchaaeologeologicalical researchresearch has has provedproved the existence of rich materialthe existence of rich material and spiritual and spiritual cultureculture. The. The Vulch Vulchititrun run treasure is one treasure is one of of the the biggest biggest goldgoldenen treasure treasuress f fououndnd in Bulgaria (12.4kg).It consists of in Bulgaria (12.4kg).It consists of 13 items which belonged to some Thracian king and 13 items which belonged to some Thracian king and were used in solar cult rituals. were used in solar cult rituals.

AtAt the beginning of the new era Pleven's area bec the beginning of the new era Pleven's area becaamemea part of The Roman Empire. a part of The Roman Empire. A Roman A Roman way-station way-station called Storgozicalled Storgoziyya a appeared on t appeared on the routehe route from from EsEskkusus to to PhPhilipopolisilipopolis near near today's Pleven today's Pleven. L. Later it becater it becaame ame afortressfortress with the same name. with the same name. The a The archaeological rchaeological findfindingings s revealreveal huge huge scale construction scale construction of military of military installationsinstallations,,religioreligiouus and administrative buildingss and administrative buildings but the but the most significant is the 4 th most significant is the 4 th centurycentury A.D. A.D.basilicabasilica- - second second afterafter the biggest Bulgarian king's basilica in Pliska. the biggest Bulgarian king's basilica in Pliska.

After the destruction of Storgoziya during After the destruction of Storgoziya during Barbaric raids, Slav tribes established a village Barbaric raids, Slav tribes established a village called called KamenetsKamenets. They gave the town its present . They gave the town its present name – Pleven. For the first time the name was name – Pleven. For the first time the name was mentioned in the Charter of the Hungarian king mentioned in the Charter of the Hungarian king Stefan IV in 1270 with regard to military march Stefan IV in 1270 with regard to military march on Bulgarian Lands.on Bulgarian Lands. ThroughThroughouout the Middle Ages Pleven's area was t the Middle Ages Pleven's area was a stronga strong fortress fortress with with well developedwell developed crafts, crafts, trades and trades and monetary exchangemonetary exchange..

Pleven saved its Bulgarian Pleven saved its Bulgarian face when it was underface when it was under Ottoman rule. ThroughOttoman rule. Throughouout t the Renaissance Pleven the Renaissance Pleven waswas well well developed in developed in agricultureagriculture,, crafts and trade. crafts and trade. During the Turkish yoke theDuring the Turkish yoke the first school for girlsfirst school for girls in in Bulgaria wasBulgaria was open openeded. In . In 1869 Vasil Levski, 1869 Vasil Levski, a a fighter fighter forfor Bulgarian freedomBulgarian freedom and a and a national revolutionarynational revolutionary, , createcreatedd in Pleven the first in Pleven the first revolutionrevolutionaryary committee. committee.

During theDuring the Russia Russian-Turkish Liberation War (1877-1878) n-Turkish Liberation War (1877-1878) Pleven was of strategic importance and focused the Pleven was of strategic importance and focused the world’s attention for five months. Huge military troops of world’s attention for five months. Huge military troops of the two Empires were concentrated around the town. the two Empires were concentrated around the town. Led by Mikhail Skobelev – the so-called White General- Led by Mikhail Skobelev – the so-called White General- Russian troops attacked Pleven three times. During Russian troops attacked Pleven three times. During these storms over 20 000 Russian soldiers were killed, these storms over 20 000 Russian soldiers were killed, 6500 of them in the area known nowadays as The Dead 6500 of them in the area known nowadays as The Dead Valley. The fourth storm was cancelled and Pleven was Valley. The fourth storm was cancelled and Pleven was besieged. On the 10th of December 1877 the Russian besieged. On the 10th of December 1877 the Russian army defeated and captured the army of Osman pasha. army defeated and captured the army of Osman pasha. The day of the victoryThe day of the victory becbecaame me thethe day of Pleven. day of Pleven.

Today many tourists choose Pleven as a tourist Today many tourists choose Pleven as a tourist destination. The town is rich in history, traditions and destination. The town is rich in history, traditions and culture.culture.

In addition to the numerous museums and monuments In addition to the numerous museums and monuments to the soldiers who died to liberate Bulgaria from Turkish to the soldiers who died to liberate Bulgaria from Turkish oppression, there are also a lot of other places to see – oppression, there are also a lot of other places to see – the theatre, the national philharmonic orchestra, the the theatre, the national philharmonic orchestra, the national song and dance ensemble, community centers national song and dance ensemble, community centers and libraries, galleries, choirs and dancing formations, and libraries, galleries, choirs and dancing formations, cinema halls and many more. cinema halls and many more.

Pleven is a well – Pleven is a well – developed industrial developed industrial and agricultural and agricultural centre.centre.

Today in Pleven Today in Pleven Province there are 37 Province there are 37 kindergardens, 39 kindergardens, 39 elementary and elementary and secondary schools, secondary schools, 13 vocational schools 13 vocational schools and 2 universities.and 2 universities.

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The main street of the town is very The main street of the town is very interesting with its old buildings, different interesting with its old buildings, different shops and beautiful fountains which are shops and beautiful fountains which are very attractive not only at daytime, but also very attractive not only at daytime, but also at night – a rainbow of colours and lights . at night – a rainbow of colours and lights .

The immediate vicinity The immediate vicinity of park “Kayluka” offers of park “Kayluka” offers good opportunities for good opportunities for walking, jogging or walking, jogging or riding a bike in riding a bike in beautiful alleys, playing beautiful alleys, playing tennis or climbing. The tennis or climbing. The reservoirs in the park reservoirs in the park are suitable for fishing are suitable for fishing and water sports.and water sports.

Another nice place where people can Another nice place where people can have a rest is “Scobelev Park”. A thing have a rest is “Scobelev Park”. A thing that attracts people’s attention in the park that attracts people’s attention in the park is the ossuary. is the ossuary.

In honor of 100 years In honor of 100 years from Pleven’s from Pleven’s liberation in park-liberation in park-museum “Skobelev”, museum “Skobelev”, on the battle-field, is on the battle-field, is created panorama created panorama “Epopee of Pleven”. In “Epopee of Pleven”. In unique way the unique way the panorama enlarges panorama enlarges almost created almost created museum’s space of the museum’s space of the town. There, in front of town. There, in front of the viewers moments the viewers moments of epic battles from the of epic battles from the last Russia-Ottoman last Russia-Ottoman war become alive. war become alive.