Pleven is located in the very heart of Miziya, in an agricultural region, surrounded by low limestone hills. Its central location in Northern Bulgaria defines its importance as a large administrative, economic, political, cultural, and transport centre.

Rich History
Pleven has a rich history. It became widely known for the five-month battles during the Russian-Turkish war 1877-78 as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from the 500 years of Ottoman domination. Of interest to the visitors is the Kailak fortress, the tumulus in the Skobelev Park, the Pleven Epopee Panoramic Exhibition, the old bridge on the Vit River, and many monuments.

Pleven Panorama
Nowadays there are 33 panoramas all over the world. One of them with the biggest dimensions is in Pleven. Pleven became internationally famous for the five-month battles during the Russian-Turkish war 1877-78 as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from the 500 years of Ottoman rule.

The Pleven Epopee 1877 Panorama depicts these events combining painting, plastics, and architecture in a whole artwork. A team of 11 Russian and 2 Bulgarian artists painted it. The Panorama was officially unveiled on 10 December 1977.

Pliska - the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria
Two kilometers away from of today’s town of Pliska (prev. name Aboba) are the remains of the imposing construction of Pliska –the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria, founded in 681 by Khan Asparoukh. It existed until 893 – 894 when the capital was moved to Veliki Preslav by Tsar Simeon the Great.

The ancient town of Pliska
The town had area of 23 sq. km and was surrounded by a 21 km long defensive line made up of a moat and ramparts. The “Interior City” had area of 0.5 sq. km, was rectangular in shape and had 2.6 m thick and about 12 m high fortress walls, cylindrical towers at each corner, and two other towers in each wall. The Grand Palace is the best preserved building in the “Interior City”. The throne of the Khan’s Council was situated here. The size of the Palace is 52 meters long and 26.5 meters wide. Khan Omurtag (814 – 831) who rendered great services to turning Pliska into one of the biggest East – European centres in the early Middle Ages built it.

Plovdiv is very, very old, indeed more ancient than Bulgaria itself. “The Eternal City”, as Rome is conventionally called, is much younger. Athens, Carthage and Constantinople came into being later. A contemporary of Troy and having survived Mycenae, Plovdiv is a city upon layers of cities and an epoch upon layers of epochs. Plovdiv is all in one: a Thracian and classical Greek polis, the pride of Philip of Macedonia, the capital of Thrace under the Roman Empire, a centre of Byzantinism, a stronghold of the Bulgarians, a dream of the crusaders, a magnificent, wealthy and most important city. Kendros, Eumolpia, Philippopolis, Pulpudeva, Trimontsium, Pulden, Populdin, Ploudin and Filibe - those were the ancient names of Plovdiv throughout its 6000 to 8000 years of existence. The name Plovdiv first appeared in 15th century documents and has remained till today.

The second biggest city in Bulgaria
The second biggest city in Bulgaria is situated beautifully on the two banks of the river Maritsa and on six unique syenite hills (called “tepeta”). Around the three eastern hills the Thracians established the ancient settlement of Evmolpiass, which was later on called Pulpudeva. In the year 342 BC the town was conquered by Philip II of Macedonia and was called Philipopol. During Roman times it was given the name of Trimontsium (”town on three hills”). The Slavs called it Plovdiv.

Old Plovdiv - an architectural and historical reserve
The most interesting place to visit is Old Plovdiv - an architectural and historical reserve, situated on the Three Hills: Bounardzhika, Nebbet, and Sahat Tepe. Here picturesque houses of the National Revival stand close to ruins from antiquity. The central part of the town was formed towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The influence of European styles in architecture can be traced. The ancient theatre has been restored, its stage being used even today. Another tourist site is the eastern gate of the fortress, known as Hissar Kapiya, which dates back 2000 years.

The Plovdiv houses
Old Plovdiv’s greatest wealth are its houses dating back to the years of the Bulgarian National Revival, remarkable for their masterful layout, impressive appearance and rich outer and inner design. Most of these were built towards the end of the 19th century. Some have been turned into museums.

Recommended sights
Visitors would also appreciate visiting: -the old churches St. Nedelya and St. Marina -the Craftsmen’s market in Strumna Street -the Museum of book publishing, arranged in the house of the renowned enlightener and publisher Hristo G. Danov -the Ancient Stadium in the centre of the town -the Archaeological museum that offers an exposition of unique exhibits of various historical periods - the golden treasure of Panagyurishte (4th-3rd centuries BC replica), silver pots, painted ceramics, ancient capitals, friezes etc. -Imaret and Dzhoumaya Mosques -the clock-tower on Sahat Tepe etc.

The modern town
The modern town is a trade and culture centre. It is a bustle of museums, churches, banks, hotels, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, shops, bars, bazaars, music clubs, casinos etc. Here rest the ruins of a Roman stadium and remnants of the Roman forum, here you can also see several mosques and original Turkish baths. The modern centre provides entertainment and rich cultural life.

Classical concerts take place at the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert hall, here in January the winter festival of Symphony Music is held. The Opera is near the concert hall. The Mesalitinov Theatre is the venue for classical drama, child shows, and modern theatre. The building of the TV centre and the Radio, and the biggest cinemas are situated in the modern city. On the premises of the Fair Camp different international exhibitions and expos are held all year round.

The town of Pomorie is situated on a narrow rocky peninsula, jutting out 3.5 km into The Black Sea, 20 km from Bourgas. Pomorie is famous for its mud therapy, known since Thracian times - it has been proved that, according to its qualities, Pomorie curative mud, extracted from the salty lake, is among the best in the world.

The fine sand of the beaches- gold and black (curative and rich in iron), the warm and clear seawater and the great number of sunny days, makes Pomorie an attractive place for tourists all over the world. Thanks to its preserved nature and ecological conditions, the town has been awarded the Blue Flag Award.

Among the most interesting places of interesting in Pomorie are the Ancient Dome Tomb from the epoch of the late Roman dominance on these lands (2nd to 3rd century), the functioning monastery ‘’St George'’ - a monument of Mediaeval architecture - in which icons are kept from the 18th and 19th centuries, the little church ‘’Christ Transfiguration'’ from 1764 and the church ‘’Virgin Mary'’, built by the best student of Kolyo Ficheto - Usta Gencho.

The town of Primorsko is a climate resort and a centre for youth tourism. It is situated 6 km north of the village of Kiten, 52 km south of Bourgas and 422 km south-east of Sofia. Primorsko is famous for its graceful, arking ten-kilometer sandy beach, the longest and prettiest on the coast. This resort is known as a place which is preferred by young Bulgarians who come here and stay in the big number of rest homes, hostels, student dorms and camp-sites. Here is the so called ‘International Youth Resort Centre (MMC)’, which still attracts thousands of young people.

In 1998 Primorsko was awarded the prestigeous Blue Flag by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe - recognition of the purity of the nature in its region. The river Ropotamo is in the vicinity of Primorsko. The Ropotamo is one of the largest Nature Reserves of Bulgaria. This reserve is world famous for its rare birds and plants, that can be found only here

The archaeologists have not determined Razgrad’s birth date with precision yet. It is only certain that people have inhabited the picturesque valley of the river Beli Lom since ancient times. The three prehistoric settlement mounds testify to that. The first class road Rousse - Varna and a railway line, which are the shortest strategic connection between the Danube and the Black Sea, pass through the municipality’s administrative centre. The biggest attraction of the region is The Sveshtari Thracian Tomb dating back to the 3rd century BC - included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Riviera Holiday Club is located amid a natural park of centuries-old trees at the water’s edge and on a beautiful beach.

The former governmental residence nowadays offers 828 beds in 6 hotels of different categories. Riviera Holiday Club is a renowned exclusive centre of business tourism, where all the requirements for the implementation of conventions and business meetings can be satisfied.

Rousalka Holiday Village

Nestling in the picturesque Taukliman Bay (Birds Bay), in the thick of a venerable oak wood, Rousalka holiday village offers an unforgettable vacation in ecologically pure surroundings.

Roussalka holiday village is the perfect blend of unspoilt nature and original architecture. A rocky coast and a nice sandy beach… small cottages built in clusters, one next to another or one above another… hot mineral water and perfect accomodation services…

Rousse is the centre of an administrative region. It is situated on the right bank of the Danube at the mouth of the river Roussenski Lom. Rousse is the biggest Bulgarian port town on the bank of the river Danube. With the opening of the Rhein - Main - Danube canal which covers 3,500 km and connects thirteen European countries with the Near and Far East via the Black Sea, the river became the longest inland waterway on the planet.

Rousse is an ancient Bulgarian borough and a port on the river Danube. People settled here in ancient times, since the river provided a living. As seen on the prehistoric settlement hill, the people in that earliest period lived in a place with clearly distinguished residential and public buildings, streets and neighbourhoods.

During the time of the First Bulgarian state, 30 km to the south of the old Roman fortress, the mediaeval town of Cherven came into being and by Prista itself the settlement of Rusi appeared.

From earliest times its advantageous location near the river Danube has made Rousse one of the most important cultural and economic centres of Bulgaria. During the Renaissance it was a cultural centre and the centre of the national liberation movement activists in Bulgaria. A Pantheon has been constructed where the ossa of Lyuben Karavelov, Stefan Kardzha, Angel Kanchev, Zahary Stoyanov, Panayot Hitov, baba Tonka and other distinguished Bulgarians are kept.

Rousse is an old Bulgarian town with traditions in culture, art and education and with developed industry and trade. The greatest and the most important town on the river Danube was also known also as “Little Vienna”, due to its brilliant ancient architecture.

About 200 buildings in Rousse are on the list of the fund of the architectural historical heritage Bulgaria, 12 of which are especially valuable: The Old Theatre, The Monument of Liberty, The High School of Music, the Catholic Church etc. The places of interest of the town also include the Leventabia Fortress, the Mahmud Column, the St. Trinity church and the monuments to those who perished in the Serbian-Bulgarian War (1885).

The Kaliopa house was built in 1865 – 1866 and now it is a Museum of city everyday life. The author of the project is unknown, but there are some documents according to which here have worked Usta Jordan (Master Jordan) and Usta Kanio (Master Kanio). The facade is close to the Plovdiv houses and to those on the Greek and Turkish coast. The house belonged to Maria Kalish, wife of Consular Kalish. A lot of local people called her Kaliopa. After the Liberation, the local tradesman Kamburov bought the house.

In the vicinity of the town are the forest park Lipnik and the Roussenski Lom natural reserve. The Bridge of Friendship over the Danube connects Rousse with Romanian town of Gyurgevo and is the border crossing point between Bulgaria and Romania.

Pliska - the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria
Two kilometers away from of today’s town of Pliska (prev. name Aboba) are the remains of the imposing construction of Pliska –the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria, founded in 681 by Khan Asparoukh. It existed until 893 – 894 when the capital was moved to Veliki Preslav by Tsar Simeon the Great.

The ancient town of Pliska
The town had area of 23 sq. km and was surrounded by a 21 km long defensive line made up of a moat and ramparts. The “Interior City” had area of 0.5 sq. km, was rectangular in shape and had 2.6 m thick and about 12 m high fortress walls, cylindrical towers at each corner, and two other towers in each wall. The Grand Palace is the best preserved building in the “Interior City”. The throne of the Khan’s Council was situated here. The size of the Palace is 52 meters long and 26.5 meters wide. Khan Omurtag (814 – 831) who rendered great services to turning Pliska into one of the biggest East – European centres in the early Middle Ages built it.