From Wikitravel

Pleven (Bulgarian: Плевен, also romanized as Pleven [ˈplɛvɛn]), a.k.a Plevna in Romanian, Plevne in Turkish, is a city in Central Northern Bulgaria.

[edit] Understand

Pleven is the seventh most populous city in Bulgaria with a bit over 110,000 inhabitants. It is the biggest transportation and industrial centre in Central Northern Bulgaria.

[edit] Get in

Pleven lies on the Sofia-Varna railway. Trains between Sofia and Rousse, as well as international trains towards Bucharest also stop in the city. Buses between Sofia and Rousse, Bucharest, Svishtov and Silistra also usually make a stop at the bus station in Pleven.

Buses from Sofia depart roughly every hour until 18.00 from the central bus station in Sofia (www.centralnaavtogara.bg) (10-13 BGN one way). Advance purchase of tickets is usually not necessary, except during major holidays. There are a few trains from Sofia every day (www.bdz.bg). These are usually slightly slower than the buses but pass through the beautiful Iskar gorge.

To Lovech there are frequent buses from the bus station in Pleven (tel: +359.64.800.122). It is also possible to take the train there (with a change in Levski), but that takes much longer. The trains continue past Lovech to Troyan.

There are trains and buses to Rousse, trains (and no buses) to Varna and all cities on the railway, buses to Veliko Turnovo, Gabrovo, Svishtov, Razgrad, Belene, Kozloduy.

There are also one to two daily departures to Plovdiv and Bucharest, and at least in the summer to Burgas.

It is possible to cross to Romania through Rousse or with one of two daily buses to Oryahovo, then take the ferry over to Bechet.

[edit] Get around

Getting around the city on foot is quite straightforward. The city is split by a long pedestrian street with many shops and service facilities.

There is also an extensive network of buses and trolley-buses.

[edit][add listing] See

The Historical Museum in downtown Pleven hosts many exhibitions, including one on the famous Bulgarian soprano Ghena Dimitrova.

By far the most popular sight of Pleven is the Pleven Panorama, which depicts the events of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–78, specifically the five-month Siege of Plevna (Pleven Epopee) which made the city internationally famous and which contributed to the Liberation of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman rule.

During the summer the many fountains and a water cascade on the central pedestrian street are a favourite place for relaxation among locals.

Pleven is famous for its Kaylaka (where the ruins of the Storgosia fortification can be found) and Skobelev parks. The latter is home to the Pleven Panorama and was where most of the battles took place.

A very interesting and somewhat underestimated sight is the 'Svetlin Rusev Donative Exhibition' (Bulgarian: Изложба-дарение „Светлин Русев“, Izlozhba-darenie „Svetlin Rusev“), which includes the personal collection of the famous Bulgarian artist. It includes works by Pablo Picasso, Francisco Goya, Honoré Daumier, Marc Chagall, Maurice Denis, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Salvador Dalí and Renato Guttuso, among others. Admission is free!

Outside the village of Gigen, close to Pleven, lie the ruins of the Roman town of Oescus.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are a few hotels in the city and not many budget options such as hostels. There is a hut in the Kayluka park, outside of the city.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

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