Pleven

About

With traces of human settlement dating back to 5000 BC, it’s no surprise that Pleven was a thriving stronghold by the Middle Ages. Despite its long history, the city is best known for being the site of a 5-month siege during the Russian-Turkish War in 1878. Today, the city is home to around 200 monuments commemorating the event, most notably, the Pleven Epopee 1877, also known as the Panorama, which depicts the story of the Siege of Pleven. Among the many other monuments dedicated to the war are the St George the Conqueror Chapel Mausoleum, which honours the many Russian and Romanian soldiers who perished, and the ossuary in Skobelev Park, which is the site of the decisive battle. The Regional history museum, housed in a 19th century military barracks has accrued artefacts from the area’s long history, including relics from the Roman, late-antique and early Byzantine, and medieval Bulgarian eras.