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Central Northern Bulgaria >> Nikopol
It is situated 229 km to the northeast of Sofia, 95 km to the east of Oriahovo, 55 km to the northeast of Pleven, 51 km to the north-west of Svishtov, 25 km to the northeast of Gulyantsi and 6 km to the east of the railway station of Cherkovitsa. It is the smallest Bulgarian town situated along the Danube River.
History. Independently of its small size today, Nikopol has a long and interesting past. It is the successor of the antique settlements of Sekouristka (the remains are by the road between Nikopol and Cherkovitsa) and Nikopolis (town of victories). It is thought that the town got its today's name from the Byzantine Emperor Iraklii in honour of the victory over the Persians in 639. The Roman - Byzantine fortress of Tourissa on the opposite Danubian bank, together with Nikopol, were expanded after the 7th century by the Bulgarians, Tourissa being called Little Nikopol and Holuvnik. Today, it is the Romanian town of Turnu Mugurele. Nikopol was the last strong, hold of the Turnovo Kingdom, defended by Tsar Ivan Shishman. He died here in an unequal battle with the Turkish invaders. The Turks called it Kyuchuk Stamboul (Little Tsarigrad) and preserved it as a port and an important military, administrative and trade centre on the Danube River. The town was a powerful fortress for centuries and the battle of the Polish King Vladislav Varnenchik and the Magyar King Sigismund with the Turks was held here. During the 18th century, Nikopol was the biggest town and fortress along the lower Danube River. The Turkish traveller Evliya Chelebi wrote that there were 16 drinking fountains and two kaleta (fortresses) in the town - Tuna Kale and Pech Kale. There were barracks for 20 000 nizami (regular soldiers). The town had a completely Oriental appearance. As of 1860, Nikopol was a river station of Austrian ships as well. After the Liberation, thanks to its natural and historical endowments, the town turned more and more into a tourist site.
Landmarks. The drinking fountain of Elia (Syutliika), built up during the 2nd century by the ordinary citizen of Rome Frontona in memory of his early deceased wife Elia, who gave vent to his grief in verse over the stone. During the 19th century archaeologist, Dijardin, moved by all that, placed another inscription. A nice lane takes us to the fountain nowadays. Shishman's fortress - remains from the fortress, defended by the last Bulgarian Tsar before the Turkish invasion - Ivan Shishman. One of the gates to the fortress, called Shishman's Gate, is very well preserved. The old St. St. Peter and Pavel Church dates back to the 13th century. The house in which Vassil Levski was hiding during his visit to the town on the way to Romania is preserved, too. In the house of Tsvyatko Smolyanov one can see the epitaph of the author of "Abagar" (the first printed book in the Cyrillic alphabet published in Rome in 1651) - the Catholic Bishop Philip Stanislavovitch who died in 1654.
Accommodation: The Town Hotel. Nikopol Camping (in Shishman Park, at the distance of 4 km from the town). It has 52 beds available in 9 bungalows with 4 beds each and 2 vans with two rooms, 4 beds in each room.
Tourist information - at the town hotel and in the Danube Tourist Association (tel.: 0651 2616). Such information may be obtained in the Town hall as well (situated in the centre of Nikopol).
Transport. There are regular bus lines to Pleven, Svishtov, Guliantsi and other smaller settlements within the region. The station of Cherkovitsa is situated at the distance of about 6 km to the west of Nikopol and it is the last station on the line of Pleven (Yassen) - Somovit - Cherkovitsa. There is a regular bus transport from the town to it. Nikopol has a river port on the Danube River as well but for the time being there are no regular passenger's transportations along the Danube River on the Bulgarian part.
Surrounding areas. At the distance of 0.5 km east of the town (past the Fishermen's Base), on the bank of the Danube River there are remains of an old rock monastery. The ruins of the ancient settlement of Sekufistka are situated past the road to the village of Cherkovitsa. The regular buses in this direction may be used. The Danube River within the region of Nikopol provides Breat opportunities for recreation, sunbathing, sports activities, water tourism, fishing, etc. Shishman Park is situated at the distance of 4 km from the town, on the bank river in a well-preserved countryside. There is a camping site as well.
 | 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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