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Pleven

Coordinates:43°24′28″N24°37′13″E/ 43.40778°N 24.62028°E/43.40778; 24.62028
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a city in Bulgaria. For other uses, seePleven (disambiguation).

Pleven
Плевен
City
Pleven
Coat of arms of Pleven
Coat of arms
Pleven is located in Bulgaria
Pleven
Location of Pleven
Pleven is located in Balkans
Pleven
Pleven (Balkans)
Pleven is located in Europe
Pleven
Pleven (Europe)
Coordinates:43°24′28″N24°37′13″E/ 43.40778°N 24.62028°E/43.40778; 24.62028
CountryBulgaria
Province
(Oblast)		Pleven
Government
• MayorDr.Valentin Hristov (GERB)
Area
•City85 km2(33 sq mi)
Elevation
116 m (381 ft)
Population
(2022)[1]
•City90,209
•Urban
110,843
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal Code
5800
Area code064
Vehicle registrationEH
WebsiteOfficial website

Pleven(Bulgarian:Плèвенpronounced[ˈplɛvɛn]) isthe seventh most populous cityinBulgaria.Located in the northern part of the country, it is the administrative centre ofPleven Province,as well as of the subordinatePleven municipality.It is the biggest economic center in Northwestern Bulgaria. At the 2021 census its population was 89,823.

Internationally known for thesiege of Plevnaof 1877, today it is a major economic centre of the Bulgarian Northwest and Central North and the third largest city ofNorthern BulgariaafterVarnaandRuse.

Name

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The name comes from theSlavicwordplevnya( "barn" ) or fromplevel,meaning "weed", sharing the same root, and the Slavicsuffix-en.

Geography

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Pleven is in an agricultural region in the middle of theDanubian Plain,the historical region ofMoesia,surrounded by low limestone hills, the Pleven Heights. The city's central location in Northern Bulgaria defines its importance as a big administrative, economic, political, cultural and transport centre. Pleven is 170 kilometres (106 miles) away from the capital city ofSofia,320 km (199 miles) west of theBulgarian Black Sea Coastand 50 km (31 miles) south of theDanube.

The riverVitflows near the city and the tiny Tuchenitsa river (commonly known in Pleven asBarata,literally"The Streamlet") crosses it.

Climate

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Pleven has ahumid continental climate(Köppen Climate ClassificationDfa). Winters are cold with snow: temperatures can fall below −20 °C (−4 °F) overnight. Springs are mild, with temperatures around 20 °C (68 °F). Summers are warm, and temperatures have exceeded 38 °C (100 °F) on occasion. The average annual temperature is around 12 °C (54 °F).

Climate data for Pleven, Bulgaria
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.8
(73.0) 		24.0
(75.2) 		31.2
(88.2) 		35.1
(95.2) 		37.5
(99.5) 		40.5
(104.9) 		44
(111) 		41.8
(107.2) 		40.8
(105.4) 		38.3
(100.9) 		28.8
(83.8) 		23.4
(74.1) 		44
(111)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.3
(34.3) 		4.6
(40.3) 		10.3
(50.5) 		18.1
(64.6) 		23.1
(73.6) 		26.7
(80.1) 		29.3
(84.7) 		29.4
(84.9) 		25.4
(77.7) 		18.2
(64.8) 		10.5
(50.9) 		4.1
(39.4) 		16.8
(62.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.2
(28.0) 		0.6
(33.1) 		5.4
(41.7) 		12.5
(54.5) 		17.4
(63.3) 		21.0
(69.8) 		23.4
(74.1) 		22.9
(73.2) 		18.6
(65.5) 		12.4
(54.3) 		6.4
(43.5) 		0.7
(33.3) 		11.6
(52.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.5
(22.1) 		−3.3
(26.1) 		0.9
(33.6) 		6.8
(44.2) 		11.5
(52.7) 		14.8
(58.6) 		16.7
(62.1) 		16.1
(61.0) 		12.3
(54.1) 		7.2
(45.0) 		2.9
(37.2) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		6.5
(43.7)
Record low °C (°F) −29.3
(−20.7) 		−22.2
(−8.0) 		−18.9
(−2.0) 		−5.7
(21.7) 		0.6
(33.1) 		3.4
(38.1) 		8.7
(47.7) 		8.9
(48.0) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−20.4
(−4.7) 		−24
(−11) 		−29.3
(−20.7)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 39
(1.5) 		34
(1.3) 		33
(1.3) 		52
(2.0) 		68
(2.7) 		81
(3.2) 		63
(2.5) 		40
(1.6) 		38
(1.5) 		44
(1.7) 		45
(1.8) 		41
(1.6) 		578
(22.8)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) 10.7 10 9.4 9.4 12.9 10.6 8.4 6 6.9 9.4 7.9 13.6 115.2
Average snowy days 8.3 7.8 4.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7.9 30.2
Source 1: Stringmeteo[2]
Source 2: Meteomanz (precipitation days and snow days 2005-2013)[3]

History

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Prehistory and antiquity

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The earliest traces of human settlement in the area date from the5th millennium BC,theNeolithic.

The central streets of Pleven

Numerous archaeological findings, among them the Nikolaevo treasure found inBulgaria,evidence for the rich culture of theThracians,who inhabited the area for thousands of years.

In the beginning of the new era, the region became part of theRoman provinceofMoesia,and a road station calledStorgosiaarose near present-day Pleven on the road fromOescus(near modernGigen) toPhilippopolis(nowPlovdiv). It later evolved into afortress.One of the most valued archaeological monuments in Bulgaria from the period is theEarly Christianbasilica from the fourth century discovered near the modern city.

Middle Ages

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Pleven Regional Historical Museum

During theMiddle Ages,Pleven was a well-developed stronghold of theFirstand theSecond Bulgarian Empire.WhenSlavspopulated the region, they gave the settlement its contemporary namePleven,it was first mentioned in a charter byHungarian kingStephen Vin 1270 in connection to a military campaign in the Bulgarian lands.

Ottoman rule

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During theOttoman rule,Pleven, known asPlevneinOttoman Turkish,preserved its Bulgarian appearance and culture. Many churches, schools and bridges were built at the time of theBulgarian National Revival.In 1825, the first secular school in the town was opened, followed by the first girls' school in Bulgaria in 1840, as well as the first boys' school a year later. Pleven was the place where the Bulgariannational heroVasil Levskiestablished the first revolutionary committee in 1869, part ofhis national revolutionary network.

Siege of Plevna

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Main article:Siege of Plevna

The city (then mostly known as Plevna outside Bulgaria) was amajor battle sceneduring theRusso-Turkish Warof 1877–1878 that RussianTsarAlexander IIheld for the purpose of the liberation of Bulgaria. The jointRussianandRomanianarmy paid dearly for the victory, but it paved the path to the defeat of theOttoman Empirein this war, the restoration of Bulgaria as a state and the independence of Romania from the Ottoman Empire. It cost the Russians and Romanians 5 months and 38,000 casualties to take the town after four assaults, in what was one of the decisive battles of the war. The siege is remembered as a landmark victory of theRomanian War of Independence,as on 28 November 1877 the Plevna citadel capitulated, andOsman Pashasurrendered the city, the garrison and his sword to the Romanian ColonelMihail Cerchez.

Pleven Panorama,one of the town's best known sights

In theEncyclopædia BritannicaEleventh Editionof 1911J.H.V. Croweconcluded his lengthy entry on Pleven (transcribed as Plevna) with the memorable dictum:

Plevna is a striking example of the futility of the purely passive defence, which is doomed to failure however tenaciously carried out... Victories which are not followed up are useless. War without strategy is mere butchery.[4]

On the other hand, the siege of Plevna stands out among other countless sieges and military actions in the region because of its significance.[5]

Plevna is one of the few engagements that changed the course of history.[6]

Modern history

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The events of the Russo-Turkish War proved crucial for the development of Pleven as a key town of central northern Bulgaria. The town experienced significant demographic and economic growth in the following years, gradually establishing itself as a cultural centre of the region.

TheBulgarian Agrarian National Union,a leadinginterwarparty representing the Bulgarian peasantry, was founded in the town in December 1899.

Prior to the Bulgarianorthographic reformof 1945, the name of the town was spelled Плѣвенъ (withyat) inCyrillic.

Population

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The town hall of Pleven

According to census 2021, Pleven has a population of 89,823 inhabitants as of December 2021.[7]The ethnic breakdown is 97%Bulgariansamong others. The number of the residents of the city reached its peak in the period 1988-1991 when exceeded 135,000.[8]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
188714,307—
191023,049+61.1%
193431,520+36.8%
194639,059+23.9%
195657,555+47.4%
196578,666+36.7%
1975107,609+36.8%
1985129,766+20.6%
1992130,812+0.8%
2001121,880−6.8%
2011106,954−12.2%
202192,101−13.9%
Source: Censuses[9][10]

Ethnic, linguistic and religious composition

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According to the 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:[11][12]

  • Bulgarians:95,386 (96.5%)
  • Turks:1,510 (1.5%)
  • Gypsies:1,017 (1.0%)
  • Others: 489 (0.5%)
  • Indefinable: 422 (0.4%)
    • Undeclared: 8,130 (7.6%)

Total: 106,954

InPleven Municipality112,414 declared as Bulgarians, 4626 as Gypsies, 3204 as Turks and 10,384 did not declare their ethnic group. Most Roma people in Pleven Municipality live in the village ofBukovlak(bg:Буковлък).

An overwhelming majority of 90% of Pleven's residents areEastern OrthodoxChristian. The Diocese ofNikopol,of which Pleven is part, is one of the two Roman Catholic dioceses in Bulgaria, and another 5% of the residents are Roman Catholic by faith, a significant number compared to other Bulgarian cities.

Pleven has three Eastern Orthodox churches, theBulgarian National RevivalSt Nicholas Church (1834) that was constructed at the place of a chapel from theSecond Bulgarian Empire,the St Paraskeva Church (1934) and the Holy Trinity Church, built in 1870 at the place of a church mentioned as early as 1523 and inaugurated by ExarchAntim I.As of 2005,a new Eastern Orthodox church is being built in the Strogoziya quarter.

The construction of a large Roman Catholic church ofOur Lady of Fatimabegan in 2001. A mosque also exists in the town to serve the needs of the Muslim population, as well as aMethodistchurch that is situated on the site of the former local puppet theatre.

Economy

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Two banks in central Pleven

A major centre of oil processing, metalworking, machinery construction, of light and food industries in Socialist times. However, the late 1990s and early 2000s saw a revival of light industry[citation needed]and the development of branches such as knitwear and store clothes production. Tourism, which had attracted many people from theSoviet Unionprior to 1989, and had experienced a slump in the following years, is on the rise again.[citation needed]

In 2015, the unemployment rate in Pleven district was 9.2%.[13]

The most important economic sectors in Pleven are chemical, textiles and foodstuffs industries, the manufacturing of cement and glass, machine building, tailoring, agriculture, retail and services.[14] The city has seen a number of major foreign investments in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Particularly noticeable is the mass construction of hypermarkets, with twoBilla,twoKaufland,twoCarrefour(in construction- first one to open in MALL PLEVEN in 2011),DM,Plus(in construction),ELEMAG,METRO,two LIDL stores, aPraktiker,bauMaxand a number of other hypermarkets being opened as of 2006.ThePleven City CenterandCentral Mall Plevenwere opened in 2008.

Transport

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The international railway Sofia — Bucharest — Moscow runs through Pleven. The international road E 83 passes just north of the city. The national A2 Hemus highway Sofia — Varna is projected to pass 16 km (10 mi) south of Pleven.

Over 90% of the inner city transportation in Pleven is maintained by trolleybuses. There are 14 trolleybus lines, and 75 km (47 mi) trolleybus network. The trolleybus fleet consist of ZIU-682 (1985–1988) and Skoda 26-TR Solaris trolleybuses, produced in 2014. A project for 12 km (7 mi) trolleybus routes extension is underway. When the extension is completed Pleven will become 100% covered by trolleybus transport.[citation needed]

Transmitter

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Near Pleven, there is a large facility for medium wave and short wave broadcasting. Pleven medium wave transmitter, working on 594 kHz, uses as antenna two 250 metres (820 feet) tall guyed mast radiators insulated against ground. These masts belong to the tallest structures of Bulgaria.[15]

Museum of the Liberation of Pleven

Main sights

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Most of the sights of the town are related to theRusso-Turkish War.The monuments related to the war alone are about 200. Some of the more popular include theSt George the Conqueror Chapel Mausoleumin honour of the many Russian and Romanian soldiers who lost their lives during thesiege of Plevnaand theossuaryinSkobelev Park.Another popular attraction isPleven Panorama,created after (and reputedly larger than) theBorodino PanoramainRussiaon the occasion of the anniversary of the siege of Plevna.

Culture

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ThePleven Regional Historical Museumis another popular tourist attraction, while theSvetlin Rusev Donative Exhibition,situated in the former public baths, exhibits works by Bulgarian artists, as well as noted Western European art figures.

TheIvan Radoev Dramatic Theatreis the centre of theatrical life in Pleven. A number of community centres (chitalishta) are also active in the city.

Medical University - Pleven, one of the five medical universities in Bulgaria, was established in 1974, aiming to expand the horizons, size and reputation of the City Hospital, founded in 1865.

Sport and recreation

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Pleven is often regarded[according to whom?]as an important centre of sports in Bulgaria, with many noted Bulgarian sportspeople having been born and/or trained in the town, includingTereza MarinovaandGalabin Boevski.

The city hosts twofootball clubs,Spartak PlevenandBelite orli,which have separate stadiums. Both teams play in the second Bulgarian league and haven't had any major successes in the past, although Spartak Pleven has been the first team for a couple of formerBulgarian internationalssuch asPlamen Getov.

Spartak Plevenis also a basketball team, a national championship winner in 1995 and national cup winner in 1996 (then namedPlama Pleven). Other than that, the team is a regular first league participant.

Pleven is famous for itsKaylaka(where the ruins of the Storgosia fortification can be found) andSkobelevparks. The latter is home to thePleven Panoramaand is situated on the original location of the battle during the Russo-Turkish War.

Notable people

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International relations

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria

Twin towns – sister cities

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Pleven istwinnedwith:[16]

Honours

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  • Acity in Kansasand atown in Montanain the United States, as well asa village in Ontario,Canadawere named after Pleven, or more precisely its historical name in EnglishPlevna,the reason for which is the battle in 1877.
  • A road in Hampton, Middlesex, London is named Plevna, adjoining another called Varna Road both made up of Victorian terraced housing built in the 1870s and named after the battles in Bulgaria of the period.
  • Pleven SaddleonLivingston Islandin theSouth Shetland Islands,Antarcticais named after Pleven.
  • In other countries there are five cities and towns named after Plevna, and eighteen Plevna streets in Britain alone[17]
  • InRomania,more than 10 large cities have a Plevna (Romanian for "Pleven" ) street, as Pleven was the location for an important battle between theOttoman Empireon one side, and theRussian Empireand Romania on the other, after which Romania gained independence.
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See also

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References

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  1. ^НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 31.12.2022 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ, ОБЩИНИ, МЕСТОЖИВЕЕНЕ И ПОЛnsi.bg
  2. ^"Stringmeteo – Pleven Climate".Stringmeteo. 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2020.Retrieved20 June2012.
  3. ^"Pleven - Weather data by months".Meteomanz.Retrieved8 July2024.
  4. ^Crowe, John Henry Verinder (1911)."Plevna § Investment and Fall of Plevna".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 840.
  5. ^"The Balkan Wars",Andre Gerolymatos, 2002, Basic Books, p.204
  6. ^"Struggle for Mastery", Taylor, pp.239–241
  7. ^(in Bulgarian)[1]
  8. ^(in Bulgarian)National Statistical Institute - Towns population 1956-1992[permanent dead link]
  9. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 July 2011.Retrieved14 February2010.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^"Cities of Bulgaria".3 April 2024.
  11. ^(in Bulgarian)Population on 01.02.2011 by provinces, municipalities, settlements and age; National Statistical InstituteArchived8 September 2013 at theWayback Machine
  12. ^Population by province, municipality, settlement and ethnic identification, by 01.02.2011; Bulgarian National Statistical InstituteArchived22 April 2012 at theWayback Machine(in Bulgarian)
  13. ^"District Pleven | National statistical institute".nsi.bg.Archivedfrom the original on 26 December 2017.Retrieved26 December2017.
  14. ^"EURES - Labour market information - Pleven - European Commission".ec.europa.eu.Archivedfrom the original on 3 May 2018.Retrieved30 July2012.
  15. ^"Predavatel • Радио и телевизия в Плевен, Radio & Television in Pleven".predavatel.Archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2008.Retrieved18 October2008.
  16. ^"Побратимени градове".pleven.bg(in Bulgarian). Pleven.Archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2019.Retrieved29 October2019.
  17. ^davidkidd.net/20Plevna.htmlArchived17 September 2007 at theWayback Machine.
  • "Home".Медицински Университет - Плевен.Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2020.Retrieved14 February2020.

Sources

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toPleven.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide forPleven.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pleven&oldid=1233352359"