Pleven Things to Do

Svetlin Roussev is a renown Bulgarian painter, born in Pleven. He donated 400 works of his collection of paintings and sculptures of Bulgarian and foreign artists.
The permanent exhibition resides in a building that served as a public bath till 1970s.
The exhibition contains works of Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, Dechko Uzunov, Vladimir Dimitrov, etc.

The regional historical museum resides in a building that was originally planned for barracks in 1888. The exposition is organized in five themes - Archeology, Ottoman period and Revival, Modern History, Ethnography and Nature, showing the history, culture, flora and fauna of Pleven area:
Archeology section shows findings
- from pre-historic time: stone instruments from the paleolithic (50,000 - 45,000 BC) finding near the village of Musselievo; findings from a village from 5,000 BC near the village of Telish, etc.
- Roman time: Colonia Ulpia Oescensium, a Roman city near the village of Gigen, built in 2nd century AC and existed till the end of 6th century AD; the Byzantine fortess Storgozia, found in the park Kaylaka near Pleven, dates back to 4-6th century AD.
- Medieval time: findings that date back to the time of the first and the second Bulgarian state - Nicopol treasure, etc.
The Ethnography sections shows the customs, clothes and every-day-life of the people in the area.

This is the house of the family of Vatsov, where the Russian Tsar Alexander II was accommodated on December, 11th, 1877 after fall of Pleven. The captured Turkish general Osman pasha was presented there to the Russian Tsar.
In this house lived also the first military governor of Pleven, general Skobelev.
In the beginning of the 20th century the house was turned into a museum and around it a garden was planted where some Russian weapons from the Russo-Turkish war are exposed.

There was a church on the place from medieval times. In the 13th century there was a temple built by traders of Dubrovnik. The church was built and rebuilt many times.
Today's building dates back to 1834. In order to follow the rules for churches buildings at the time of Ottoman Yoke, the church lies 1.5 m below the ground level. The tower bell was erected in 1883.
Although the church does not have wall paintings, it is of the greatest monuments of the medieval art because of its icons collection - there 68 icons painted by Dimiter Zograf, the icon St. Iliya by Nikola Obrazopisov, as well of the woodcraft by Peter from Gabrovo, who made the iconostasis.
The church was witness of many historical moments. From there the Greek bishop Paisij was sent back by the Pleven citizens who as well the other Bulgarians wanted independence from the Greek Church. Here the Tsar Alexander II, called in Bulgaria, Tsar-Liberator, attended the church service.

The memorial chapel St. George was built in honour of 31,000 Russian and 7,500 Romanian soldiers, who fell during the Siege of Pleven in 1877.
The chapel was built between 1903 and 1907 by the project of the architect P. Koychev and was named after the patron saint of Bulgarian Army, St. George.
Chapel-Mausoleum St. George is depicted on the coat of arms of Pleven.

The landmark of Pleven, Pleven Panorama was built for 100th anniversary from Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878) that lead to the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Yoke. The Siege of Pleven last for 5 months (20 July–10 December 1877) and is aka Pleven Epopee. Pleven Panorama depicts the battles of Pleven, mainly the third one. The most impressive part is 115×15 meter picture, that nearly makes you feel yourself on the battle field.
There are 33 panoramas around the world, and Pleven Panorama is one of the largest ones.

Panorama is memorial of the russian soldiers died in The Russian-Turkish war 1878.
In the Panorama there is uniqe and enormous paintings of the Pleven fights.
The park outside the Panorama is named after the russian general Skobelev who lead the russian army.
The park is wild and natural outside the city

Speedy look at the most beautiful restaurant from Pleven. It is located in center, here you can eat and drink everything just making an order from pictures menu, it's simple and easy for you, and don't forget it's very chip.

Close to Pleven in the summer time you can spend your time in Kailaka, 4 km distance from center. There is a nice lake with boats, nice park and a very nice swimming pool with mineral water.

This is a photo taken inside the Panorama hall.
The cannon is real but everything behind it is a picture...

Near the city hall on the same square there is a beautiful church which is now a museum.

There is some pics of the stage of Pleven theatre...
You can see me on the pics - the guy in the red costume...

air is becoming cold in Pleven center because a nice fauntain it's working all the time, even in evening with nice colours.