Public Holiday of Lovetch

On May 11 the town of Lovetch celebrates its public holiday. It is situated on the border between the Danubian Plain and the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains, on the river terraces of Osam River. On the east, the town is surrounded by a plateau, 250 m high, with almost vertical slope to the East Industrial Zone. Lovetch is located 150 km away from the capital Sofia. The land here has been inhabited since high antiquity because of the favorable position between the mountain and the plain. The ancient town arose over the ruins of the Thracian town of Melta, which was probably the capital of a Thracian tribe and had very important role of a trade station for the Thracian tribes. Later, when the Romans colonized the Balkan Peninsula they established a Roman station and called the town Presidium. It had a very strategic role, being on one of the main Roman roads – Via Trajana, connecting the White Sea with the Danube River. Even today, the Roman road Varosh exists. During the Middle Ages Lovetch was of strategic importance. According to some researchers the Lovetch fortress was one of the last conquered by the Ottomans – in 1446, but even after that it kept significant rights – Ottomans were forbidden settling in the town, no children were called in the janissary army, and the town kept collecting the duties for the goods passing it. At the end of 16th century the town was deprived of these privileges. Because of its prosperity the town was called Altin (golden) – mentioned for the first time in 1520. In 1784 the town was siege and burned down by the Ottomans. Today Lovetch is an important commercial, educational and cultural center. The melody of the anthem Varvi Narode Vazrodeni (March ahead, o revived people) was composed in Lovetch. It was years that the town celebrated the so-called Lilac Holidays in May. This was the reason for the local community to choose in 1992 the date of May 11 – the day of the Cyril and Methodius brothers – for official holiday of Lovetch.