Pleven
Occupying the central part of northern Bulgaria, this province is best known for the Siege of Pleven of 1877, a bloody event which attracted much international attention. These lands were populated as early as 5,000 BC, and the Pleven Archaeological Museum, for example, holds a vast selection of Neolithic artifacts. It was in this area that the country's most significant golden treasure was found, along with a number of Thracian ritual objects. Under Roman rule, the area was part of the province of Moesia and contained a major road plus a fortification. It also served a vital purpose for the First and Second Bulgarian Empire, and under the Ottomans retained its Bulgarian character. The town saw a large cultural upswing during the Bulgarian National Revival, when it built a number of churches and secular schools.