Lovech Province (Bulgarian:Област Ловеч,romanized: Oblast Lovech, former nameLovech okrug) is one of the 28provinces of Bulgaria, lying at the northern centre of the country. It is named after its main city:Lovech. As of December 2009, the population of the area was151,153.[1][2][3] It covers a total area of approximately 4,129 square km and includes 8 municipalities.
The region is characterized by a mix of mountainous and lowland terrain, with significant rivers including theOsam,Vit, andZlatna Panega flowing through it. Much of the province lies within the northern foothills of the Balkan Mountains, contributing to a varied landscape of forests, rivers, and karst formations.
Lovech Province is home to parts of theCentral Balkan National Park, one of the largest protected areas in Bulgaria. The park includes several reserves such as:
Steneto Nature Reserve – known for its deep gorges and rich biodiversity.
Boatin Reserve – featuring ancient beech forests and habitats for rare bird species.
The province has a rich historical heritage with over 600 cultural monuments, ranging from Thracian and Roman times to the Bulgarian National Revival. Notable landmarks include:
Troyan Monastery – the third largest monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the 16th century, known for its frescoes by Zahari Zograf.
Glozhene Monastery – perched on a cliff near the village of Glozhene, offering panoramic views and historical significance.
Thecovered bridge in Lovech – a unique structure built by Bulgarian master Kolyu Ficheto in the 19th century, connecting the old town (Varosha) with the new part of the city.
The architectural reserveVarosha, located in Lovech, preserves numerous Revival-style houses and churches, and theVasil Levski Museum honors the legacy of Bulgaria’s national hero.
Lovech Province is a growing tourist destination, attracting visitors with its natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and thermal springs. The town ofShipkovo is known for its mineral water and balneotherapy, whileApriltsi,Teteven, andTroyan offer mountain tourism, hiking, and traditional crafts.
Economically, the province is supported by industries such as food processing, woodworking, and machine-building, with tourism playing an increasingly important role.
The Lovech province (област,oblast) contains eight municipalities (singular: община,obshtina - plural: общини,obshtini). The following table shows the names of each municipality in English andCyrillic, the main town or village (in bold), and the population as of December 2009.
The Lovech province had apopulation of 169,951 according to a 2001census, of which49.1% weremale and50.9% werefemale.[7]
As of the end of 2009, the population of the province, announced by the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, numbered 151,153[1] of which29.4% are inhabitants aged over 60 years.[8]
A further 11,000 persons in the Province did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census
In the 2001 census, 167,877 people of the population of 169,951 of Lovech Province identified themselves as belonging to one of the following ethnic groups (with percentage of total population):[10]
In the 2001 census, 168,307 people of the population of 169,951 of Lovech Province identified one of the following as theirmother tongue (with percentage of total population):154,157Bulgarian (90.7%),6,994Turkish (4.1%),6,033Romani (3.5%),and 1,123 other (0.7%).[11]
