Two thirds of Lovech Province are characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain. Rivers and reservoirs, karst landscapes and hiking trails give the region different sides to explore according to your interests. The Iskar, Vit and Osam rivers, as well as the Sopot, Krapets and Aleksandrovo reservoirs, are places to relax and fish. If you prefer getting around on foot, you will find specific routes with published walking times; crafts and cultural history are also among the region’s attractions.
Karst, protected areas and waterfalls
The Devetashko Karst Plateau is home to major Bulgarian cave systems and a wide variety of other karst formations. The area around Krushuna has also been designated as a model area for protected karst landscapes. The Maarata natural monument is part of Maarata Forest Park. The province also has eight reserves and protected areas within Central Balkan National Park, including Kozya Stena, Steneto, Boatin and Tsarichina reserves. Check the park’s official notices before visiting.
Near Apriltsi is Vidimsko Praskalo Waterfall: it is 80 meters high and located on the Praskalska River. Saeva Dupka Cave near Brestnitsa offers a different kind of nature experience. A national tourist site, the cave formed in tectonic limestone, is 400 meters long and between 5 and 17 meters high. Access may be regulated seasonally; check local conditions before visiting.
Hiking routes with different stated times
In Teteven, the “Under the Waterfall’s Spray” eco-trail starts in the town center. The four-kilometer route crosses four wooden bridges and leads to Skoka Waterfall; the stated walking time is about two hours. Check local trail and access conditions before setting out.
Marked hiking trails from Ribaritsa lead to Kostina, G. Benkovski Hut, Vezhen Hut and Vezhen Peak, as well as to Eho Hut. The stated walking times range from two to seven hours in total. This allows you to compare the time required with the approximately two-hour loop in Teteven, without treating the routes as equivalent. Markings and conditions may change seasonally. Beklemeto in Central Balkan National Park offers opportunities for summer and winter tourism, as well as routes to several mountain huts and Vezhen Peak; here, too, you should check seasonal trail and road conditions.
Crafts and traditions in Oreshak and Troyan
Growing plums is as much a tradition in Oreshak as making Troyan plum brandy. A recurring festival combines culinary competitions and tastings with demonstrations of pottery and woodcarving. Oreshak is also the setting for a traditional four-day crafts fair associated with the feast of Troyan Monastery. Craftspeople from all over Bulgaria display their work there; visitors can see and find ceramics, traditional foods and other attractions. As event details may change, check current dates and the program before travelling.
The National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts in Oreshak displays folk art by leading masters from all of Bulgaria’s ethnographic regions and is considered unique in its nationwide scope. The Museum of Folk Arts and Applied Crafts in Troyan also offers a distinctive perspective: it showcases not only finished craft products, but also the tools, forms and functions, as well as the decorative techniques behind them. At Troyan Monastery, remarkable architecture and frescoes are part of the cultural picture, alongside a museum collection of historic art and craft objects, valuable manuscripts and traditional items.
City history and walks in Lovech
In Lovech, the Varosha architectural and historical reserve preserves the old town on the right bank of the Osam. It took shape during the Bulgarian National Revival. The Covered Bridge is laid out as a crafts street and connects the old and new parts of town. The shops sell Bulgarian folk art and crafts, and workshops demonstrate production techniques. The shops and demonstrations taking part may change.
For a walk in the city, the Bash-Bunar Promenade follows the left bank of the Osam for two kilometers. Trees, shrubs and flowers line the route, and there are places to relax along the promenade. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether hiking routes, karst landscapes, or crafts and city history will be the focus of your trip. The different stated walking times and cultural themes provide practical guidance; check current conditions for each outing.
Discover more destinations: Troyan, Teteven, Yablanitsa, Letnitsa, Apriltsi, Lovech, Lukovit, Ugarchin, Aleksandrovo
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