Pleven, the city of many faces

published on 11/23/10 12:23 PM

Photo: imagesfrombulgaria.com

Pleven is the seventh biggest city in Bulgaria attracting many foreign tourists every year. There is hardly any other place whose historical monuments are in such a harmony with its modern architecture. Mariya Kavoulska, Chair of the Tourism Advisory Board with the city of Pleven, told Radio Bulgaria about the city´s ancient past.

“The city of Pleven has a long history. It is here, for example, that remains from the end of 5000 BC were excavated. Then antique settlement of Stargozia was an important road artery in the Roman Empire. Archeological evidence suggests the existence of massive construction work at the times. Nowadays, a most valuable archeological monument has been preserved. This is an early Christian basilica dating back to 4th century AD, which is the second biggest in Bulgaria after the King´s basilica in the old capital of Pliska. The preserved remains can be seen at the natural complex of Kailaka located very close to Pleven”, Mariya Kavoulska explained.

The residents of Pleven love the city´s history and take care of preserving it. In the words of Mariya Kavoulska, Pleven and its surroundings have more than 200 monuments commemorating Bulgaria´s struggle for liberation from Ottoman Rule. In honour of the 100th anniversary of the country´s liberation, for instance, a panorama called Pleven´s Epopee 1877 was built depicting the events of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The residents of Pleven consider it to be a symbol of the city. What is more, Pleven is an attractive tourist destination for its beautiful nature.

“A most interesting landmark which is close to Pleven is the site of Chernelka, where an ecopath has been made”, Ms Kavoulska went on to say. “This is a karst canyon in the central Danube plain located in between two villages in the district of Pleven. The canyon is 7 km in length, 200 m in width, and 30 m in height. It is an exceptionally beautiful place. Pleven is also visited for its many art galleries. One of them exhibits pictures of Bulgarian popular artist Svetlin Roussev. Born in Pleven, the artist has donated more than 400 works from his private collection. The gallery also showcases modern Bulgarian art works, as well as works from the artistic traditions of Western Europe, India, Africa and Latin America. The building of the gallery is an interesting cultural monument. It was built in the early 20th century and was named Turkish-Roman Baths for its elements specific of the Moorish architecture”, Mariya Kavoulska said further.

Pleven is also famous for Bulgarian opera singers like Katya Popova, Gena Dimitrova, Assen Selimski and Hristo Brumbarov, who left a significant mark in the 20th century opera art. Pleven´s drama theatre is also a place worth visiting, already with an 85-year history. Undoubtedly, a tour in Pleven cannot possibly finish without a visit to the suburban park of Kailaka, which is a favourite resting place for the residents of Pleven. Its cycle lanes and walkways, as well as playgrounds, swimming pools and coffee shops welcome anybody who wants to escape for a while from the urban environment. What is more, the uplands in the park are suitable for the lovers of climbing. In the last years Kailaka has started to offer yet another attraction: wine tourism.

“This is the Wine Museum, which is located in a cave in Kailaka”, Mariya Kavoulska continued. “The museum was built by Bulgarian and French architects, oenologists and museum experts. The reason for setting up such a museum is that Pleven is considered the first wine industry centre in Bulgaria. As early as 1890 Pleven opened the first school of wine and vine growing. In 1902 the city established the first of its kind Institute for Wine in Bulgaria. The museum exhibits wines, which are 30-90 years old. What is more, it includes some 6000 bottles of contemporary wine from all wine regions in the country. Here you can learn how the wine is produced and trace the country´s history in wine production. There is also a special hall for wine tasting, which is a most interesting tourist attraction”, Mariya Kavoulska, Chair of the Tourism Advisory Board with the city of Pleven, said in conclusion.

The cold winter and hot summer have never been an obstacle for the development of tourism in Pleven. Yet, it is spring that reveals the genuine charm of this place. A walk around the city´s eye-catching water complex in the centre promises an unforgettable view: several water cascades, water mirrors, as well as a fountain, bathed in colour lights, will compel any one visitor of Pleven to dream of coming back to the city of many faces.

English version: Vyara Popova

По публикацията работи: Lina Ivanova

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Pleven, the city of many faces

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