Baba Vida Fortress

The town’s major historical monument is Baba Vida Fortress situated on the Danube. Built by Romans in the 3rd4th century, it was restored and expanded in the Middle Ages. In the 13th-14th centuries Bdin was the strongest fortress in North-west Bulgaria and continued to play an important part during Ottoman domination when it was restored and fortifled. Now the fortress contains a museum. Every two years the summer theatre plays host to drama festivals of historical plays.

Other points of interest are the mosque and library; The Cross Barracks, late 18th century, houses The History Museum. The Church of St Panteleimon built in the first half of the 17th century; the Church of St Petka, Hadji Angelov House — a two-storey building with two bay-windows typical of the National Revival Period.

There are several other memorials in the town commemorating battles fought over the last 100 years.

The town has a modem hotel — Rovno, 4 T.Petrov Str., two-star with 6 suites, 8 single and 132 double rooms, restaurant, day bar, cafe, duty free shop, rent-a-car service (tel.: 244-02 and 2-62-95). The Bononia Hotel is a five-storeyed, two-star hotel with one suite, 3 single and 48 double rooms, restaurant, bar, cafe and information office.

32 km southwest of Vidin is Bulgaria’s westernmost town, Koula i pop. 6,000). The Vrushka Chouka border check point on the Bulgarian-Yugoslav border is only 13 km away. In Roman times there was a settlement, called Castra Martis which was an- important fortress on the road from Ratiaria to Naisus. Ruins from this fortress are preserved in the town centre.

SOFIA – LOVECH _ VELIKO TURNOVO – GABROVO (260 KM )

Northeast of Sofia the road passes through the village of Yordankino near which Yordanka Nikolova, fighting against fascism, died a hero’s death: she is commemorated by a modest monument.

Between the villages of Potop and Chourek, on the right, is the monument to partisans from the Chavdar brigade which operated m the region during the 2nd World War sofia daily tours, The chalet opposite the monument has a small museum.

44 km from Sofia is the highest point of the picturesque Vitinya Pass. Here there is a restaurant, a food store and a petrol station.

Descending we reach Botevgrad (pop. 19,000), an important industrial and transport centre and the centre of Bulgarian industrial electronics. A beautiful clock tower (1866) stands in the town’s square. Hotels in the town include the Botevgrad hotel, 3 stars seven floors with 6 suites and 232 beds, a restaurant, day bar, night club, cafe, duty free shop, rooftop restaurant, post office; the Sinyo Nebe hotel (tel. 27-90) accommodates the ‘Rest and Recreation’ office.

On the E-83 motorway, 8 km from Botevgrad and 71 km from Sofia is the huge Pravets tourist compound, with a motel accommodating 60, a camping site situated round a pond, with 57 beds in bungalows, a hotel accommodating 104, restaurant, Shatra entertainment area, petrol station and car-repair shop.