The town of Lovech has a magnificent guardian who watches over it day and night. This is the Lovech medieval fortress, which rises above the city and preserves wonderful stories from the past.
The fortress has been restored and open for tourists for years, but recently new attractions have been added making it worth visiting again!
On entering the Lovech fortress you will be greeted by two figures, representing in real size the look and equipment of Bulgarian warriors from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XII-XIV) century.
One of the new attractions is a laser show. It includes text and paintings that are projected onto the rock wreath above the Stratesh hill. You can enjoy the audio-visual performance "Lovech Fortress reveals ...", on the inner fortress wall, in summer and autumn. And on the outer wall, "Sound and Light" is projected throughout the year. In order to admire these attractions, you must make a preliminary request.
Everyone who dreams of an unusual wedding, a "Boyar wedding" is held at the fortress. It is a marriage ritual in the style of the Bulgarian Middle Ages under a specially stylized dome in the basilica of the fortress. All guests are dressed in medieval clothing, and the newlyweds - with royal robes and crowns.
If you want, you can just walk to the medieval fortress of Lovech. It is located in the old part of Lovech, so do not miss to check it out. It is situated on two terraces, on the rocky hill of Hisarya, which reveals a magnificent view!
On the Hisarya hill is very lively since the stone-copper age. Since then, parts of homes, fragments of clay pots and a golden inlay have been found. Archaeological excavations show that there existed a Thracian settlement. Parts of a stone and clay dwelling were revealed, numerous fragments of gray Thracian ceramics and a Rodos amphora handle with a stamp. During the Roman conquests at the beginning of the 1st century, the settlement was moved to the flat part of the city. But when the invasions of the barbarian tribes began in the middle of the third century, it was moved to the hill because of the natural conditions of protection. It existed in the V-VII century (the Early Byzantine era). Probably after the demise of the settlement from the Early Byzantine era for some time the hill was deserted.
In Bulgarian history, the name Lovech is mainly found in connection with events dating back to the 11th century. The first mention of the fortress is related to the invasion of the Pechenegs in the Bulgarian lands and the Byzantine military action against them. It is Lovech that is the city that stops the Byzantine troops, led by Isaac II Angel, who came to the north of the Balkan Mountain to stop the Bulgarian rebels. Thus in 1187 Lovechbecame one of the symbols of the restoration of the Second Bulgarian State.
During the excavations a large amount of ornaments, household items, cannons, ceramics were found. Particular attention is paid to the two collections of silver coins depicting King Ivan Alexander and his son Mihail.
Do not miss to visit the fortress in June 2018. Then, on the occasion of 831 years of the unsuccessful siege of Lovech Medieval Fortress during the Asenovci Liberation Movement, the Municipality of Lovech organizes a Festival of Medieval Life, Culture, Arts and Military Skills from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There you will be able to see historical reconstructions that include: Outdoor Museum, Armor and Attributes; Archery and Crossbow Shooting; Crafts and Arts; Medieval Games; Contact Fighting .
