Lovech
Right in the heart of northern Bulgaria, the province of Lovech incorporates a number of important historical towns, such as Pleven, Teteven and Troyan. Being one of the oldest settlements in the country, its administrative hub, the town of Lovech, has amassed large amounts of artifacts. Having started as a Thracian site in the 4th Century BC, the town has preserved several vestigia of these most ancient times in the architectural reserve of Varosha. Under Roman rule, it was in that region that the strategic Prezidium Fortress was erected to safeguard the major roads. During the Second Bulgarian Empire, it was set on an important trade route. Under Ottoman rule, however, the area marked a significant decline. In 1784, Lovech was burnt to the ground by Turkish troops, and later produced a number of revolutionary committees, such as the Internal Revolutionary Organisation of Vasil Levski.