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Northwestern Bulgaria >> Lom
It is 162 km north of Sofia, 56 km southeast of Vidin, 49 km north of Montana and 42 km west of Kozlodoui. It is the second most important port on the Danube after Rousse.
History. It was founded by the Thracians under the name of Artanes. After them, the Romans called the fortress and the town Almus, from where the name of today's town and of the Lom River comes. There are no reports proving that there existed a big settlement in the Middle Ages. It was not until Turkish rule when it enlarged but for a long time it was under the shadow of the dominant towns of Vidin, Nikopol and Silistra. It is assumed that the Turkish village was founded in 1695 by Kara Mustafa and Murad Bei who were defeated at Vienna in 1683 and who came here sailing rafts along the Danube River. The name Lom Palanka was mentioned for a first time in 1704. The settlement then called "palanka" was something between a village and a town in size and importance. In 1798, Lom was suffered by the kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands). With the development of shipping along the Danube after 1830, the importance of the town grew. The road to Sofia contributed to its progress and turned it into a main export port to Vienna (Austria). By 1869, there were 120 shops, 148 trade offices, 175 food shops, 34 coffee bars, 6 hotels, 2 mills. The town was centered on the old Kale (fortress), which was entered through three kapii (gates) - Vidinska, Belogradchishka, Sofiiska. The tradesmen from Lom offered goods at the biggest fairs in the region and beyond. In 1880, there were 7500 inhabitants in the town. Lom is proud of its traditions from the period of the national Revival. In 1856 the first community centre in Bulgaria was founded there, the first women's society in this country was founded here (1858) and one of the first theatre performances took place in the town. Krustyu Pishurka, an educator worked here.
Landmarks. The Town Museum of History is housed in the interesting building of the old town hall. The foundations of the antique fortress Almus are preserved. The oldest community centre in this country - Postoianstvo. The building of the former School of Pedagogy. The Borunska Church. The monument to Tseko Voivoda (1807 -1881) - a participant in the battles for liberation from Serbia and pronounced by its government to be a voivoda (revolutionary leader).
Accommodation. The Dounav Hotel.
Tourist information - at the hotel and at the Asparuchov Hulm Tourist Association (5, Nikola Chukov Street, 3600 Lom, tel.: 0971 24194, 24586).
Transport. Two types of transport connect it to the rest of the world - bus and railway transport. There are bus lines to Vidin, Kozlodoui, Montana as well as to other smaller settlements in the region. The bus station telephone is 0971 22093. The town is a last stop on the railway line Broussartsi- Lom, through which it is connected with the national railway system. The railway station telephone is 0971 22485. There is a river port, too, but so far there is no regular transport provided from Bulgaria.
Surrounding areas. The remains of the Asparoukhov Rov (The dyke of Asparoukh) (4 km southeast). The Danube River, along the banks there are holiday homes, establishments, places for recreation and sport. The big river offers wonderful opportunities for motor sports, water tourism and many other activities. 28 km westward there are remains of the Roman Ratsiaria (refer to Vidin related chapter herein).
 | Detailed information about the Bulgarian towns and cities |
Central Southern Bulgaria
Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa, Pazardzhik, Koprivshtitsa, Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer, Hissarya - spa resort, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Chepelare, Smolyan, Devin, Pavel Banya, Kazanluk, Stara Zagora, Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzhali | Southeastern Bulgaria
Svilengrad, Elhovo, Yambol, Sliven, Kotel, Karnobat, Aitos, Malko Turnovo | Northwestern Bulgaria
Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Belogradchik, Vidin, Kozlodui, Oriahovo, Montana, Vratsa, Mezdra, Botevgrad, Etropole, Yablanitza, Cherven bryag, Loukovit, Lom | Central Northern Bulgaria
Teteven, Troyan, Apriltzi, Lovech, Pleven, Nikopol, Svishtov, Pavlikeni, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Byala, Rousse | Southwestern Bulgaria
Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Bansko ski resort, Razlog, Blagoevgrad, Doupnitsa, Samokov, Kyustendil, Pernik, Pirdop and Zlatitsa, Panagyurishte, Kostenets, Velingrad | Northeastern Bulgaria
Pliska, Shoumen, Veliki Preslav, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Toutrakan, Silistra, Dobrich, Provadia | Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Shabla, Roussalka, Kavarna, Balchik, Albena, Zlatni Pyasutsi (GOLDEN SANDS), St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna, Kamchia, Obzor, Elenite, Slunchev Bryag (SUNNY BEACH), Nessebar, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Dyuni, Primorsko, Kiten, Tsarevo, Ahtopol | Bulgarian Mountains
Rila, Rila Monastery, Borovetz, Malyovitza, Pirin, Melnik and The Rozhen Monastery, Shiligarnika, Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountain), KOM - Emine Route, The Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Vitosha |
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