Lovech: the scented city

Lovech is a picturesque town of about 35.000 inhabitants located on both banks of the Osam River, in central bulgaria, but in the northern part of the country. Its origin is a settlement of the three Traciae, ancestors of present-day Bulgarians from 2.000 years BC. The name of Lovech comes from an old Bulgarian word that means "city of the river". For those who plan travel to Bulgaria it is a destination to consider, not only for the city itself but also for the natural attractions of the region where it is located and which I will describe below:

1. Lovech Covered Bridge.

No, not in italy, nor in france, nor in germany, is in the hidden europe: Bulgaria. It is a peculiar bridge, unique in europe, has an oak and beech wood structure, the cover is iron and the pillars are stone. Connect the old part of Lovech (Varosha neighborhood) with the modern part and is the symbol of the city. It was constructed in 1876 by Renaissance master Kolyu Fitcheto, in 1925 suffered a fire that destroyed it but was rebuilt in 1931. It has a length of 106 meters and a width of 10 meters.

Its peculiarity lies in being covered and that from its origin the bridge was designed not only to communicate both banks of the river but also was given a commercial use by installing small stalls and shops of local artisans inside (until 40 different), so that of the 10 meters wide, 5 were dedicated to transit and the other 5 to the shops. The historical importance of the bridge is that Lovech is the shortest path between the Danube, the Balkans and the Aegean Sea. It is a nerve center of a network of roads, some of which date back to the time of Roman rule.

Currently the craft stalls are maintained, local products and souvenirs inside, adding up 14 posts, so a walk across this bridge is like stepping back in the time tunnel to a covered medieval market while crossing the historic quarter of the city. Also in the center of the bridge there is a small cafeteria with magnificent views of the river and the city.

Entrance to the Lovech Covered Bridge

Lovech's Frozen River (click to like the photo)

2. Devetashka's cave.

It is located 18 km from Lovech and is one of the largest in Bulgaria and Europe. Click on his photo to enlarge it.

There are vestiges that the Devetashka cave was inhabited in prehistoric times but currently its only inhabitants are one of the largest colonies of bats in Europe with about 30.000 specimens of different species. In order to protect them, access to the cave is restricted in the months of June and July, which is its main feeding season. But it was not always like this, in 2011 a scene from a Sylvester Stallone action movie was shot here, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other "big players" who cut the bat population in half, they fled due to the stress suffered. Fortunately, the population subsequently recovered. I recommend traveling to Bulgaria to get to know it because the measurements that I can give here do not give an idea of ​​its majesty until one enters it, but there they go: 2 entries of 30 meters high, a main hall of 60 meters, two main galleries, an inland river and even 7 huge holes in its ceiling that allow the passage of light and therefore of the plant life inside. The entrance to the Devetashka cave is free except for the galleries that require caving equipment in which case permits must be requested. They only ask for a small parking fee, which is a short walk before reaching the entrance to the cave.

3. Lovech's Old Quarter: Varosha.

Houses of the Varosha neighborhood in Lovech

As i mentioned before, This neighborhood is located on one of the banks of the Osam River that divides Lovech in two, the new and the old part. Its origin dates back to the 12th century although the current typical houses were built between the years 1850-1870. Its streets are narrow and winding, and its architecture a mixture of medieval styles, Renaissance and early 20th century, all concentrated in a neighborhood of houses that of course are inhabited, some are small ethnographic museums. In general they are houses of 1 oh 2 heights, with patios planted with geraniums and lilacs, in fact all spring the city smells like lilacs as if it had been perfumed on purpose, I'm not exaggerating, it is something curious to experience if you are going to travel to Bulgaria. There are some 180 Houses in this neighborhood that have been declared an architectural monument, so if you are going to travel to Bulgaria and visit this city, prepare your camera and get lost in its narrow streets without the burden of the tourist overcrowding of other European cities.

4. Krushuna waterfalls.

Krushuna waterfall – Click to enlarge the photo

Krushuna natural lagoons

Krushuna waterfalls are very close to Devetashka cave. It is the largest waterfall in Bulgaria, not in height, its highest level is 20 meters, but by the number of waterfalls, ramifications, steps and rafts that form. The first impression given to those who decide to travel to Bulgaria and visit is to find themselves on an exotic island surrounded by lush vegetation and perpetual humidity.. Downstream, several ladder rafts of incredible greens form. In addition, for hiking enthusiasts, a path with wooden bridges has been set up that allows you to get as close as possible to the waterfalls and take spectacular photographs.

If you want to visit these unknown places, either as a hiker or as a visitor, Count on us and we will prepare a complete trip with a local Spanish-speaking guide, or at your own pace in a rental car: ask for a custom budget here.