Pleven is located in the central part of the Danubian Plain, past the Vit River. It has 137 768 inhabitants. The town is situated at a distance of 174 km to the north-east of Sofia, and 146 km to the south-west of Ruse. The town is a regional centre. Pleven is located in the very heart of Moesia, in an agricultural region, surrounded by low limestone hills. Its central location in Northern Bulgaria defines its importance as a large administrative, economic, political, cultural, and transport centre.
 
     History

     Pleven has a centuries and rich in events history. It originated in Thracian times on the place of today’s park Kailaka and it was named Storgozia, which name was preserved in Roman times too. After its destruction by the barbarians, the Slavs rebuilt it under the name Kamenets. A second settlement was set up to the north of it which was named Pleven. Later on the two settlements were united and they were first mentioned under the name Pleven in 1266. After 12th century the town developed as a craftsmen and trade centre. The town put up a ferocious resistance to the Turkish invaders and that is the reason for its being destroyed and for its population being slaughtered, expelled and converted to Islam after its downfall. In 1696 Pleven was conquered and set on fire by the Wallachian Chieftain Mihail Vityaz. 
     During 17th and 18th centuries the Bulgarian population in the town grew in number and took the trade and the handicrafts in their own hands and started to develop its cultural life as well. The town became famous on the Balkan Peninsula and in Bulgaria for its market of cattle and sheep. In 1825 a Bulgarian secular school was opened there, then in 1840 – the first Bulgarian girl’s school and a year later - a new boy’s school. Pleven became famous most of all with the events, which took place during the Liberation Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The town quickly grew up after the Liberation.

     Landmarks

     Most of the landmarks are related to the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation. About 200 monuments remind to the generations about the most sanguinary battles, which took place here. There is a Mausoleum – Ossuary, dedicated to the Russian and Romanian soldiers killed during the war in the centre of the town. The Museum of Liberation stands not far from it. Another landmark is the Panorama "Pleven Epopee 1877". It is built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pleven Epopee, on analogy of the Borodin Panorama in Moscow. You can also visit the Museum of History, situated not far from the centre. It was dedicated to the citizens, who died in the Serbian-Bulgarian War in 1885. The unique of its kind park Kailaka, is situated in immediate proximity to the town, in the south side of the valley of Tuchenitsa River.

     Transport

     Pleven is a big transport centre. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Lovech, Troyan, Levski and a lot of other small settlements. The central bus station is on Republika Square. The railway station is next the bus station, on the same square. Pleven is situated on the main railway line Sofia – Gorna Oryahovitsa – Varna. 

 
     Surroundings

     The village of Grivitsa is situated at a distance of 6 km east of the town. The population of the village and the region had taken active part in the war for Liberation. A mausoleum in memory of the killed Romanian soldiers is erected in a spacious park with a lot of monuments. One can go there from the town by train or bus.

     The town Pordim is situated at a distance of 21 km to the east of Pleven. The General Headquarters of the Russian army was located there during the War of Liberation. There is another museum – "Romanian soldier 1877-1878". A regular bus may reach it, too. 
     A green zone was formed around Pleven of 25 thousand decares. It includes the parks of: Kailaka, General Lavrov, General Genetski and others. In the village of Valchitran, situated at a distance of 22 km south-east of Pleven, Valchitran Gold Treasure was found in 1924. In the town of Dolni Dabnik at a distance of 15 km to the west of Pleven a lot of monuments from Pleven Epopee can be found. Here is the greatest oil deposit in Bulgaria, natural gas is yielded here too. There are three lakes in its surroundings - a favourite place for recreation, water motor sports, water tourism and fishing.