The route is a 2-day light-to-medium route for beginners in kayak or canoe tours on the Danube that want an adventurous experience for people with disabilities and those with experience who want to make a relaxing kayak on the Danube.
The distance traveled to this tour is 41 km, which we shall divide in two days, with the starting point at Nicopole, the Plevna district and the point of arrival at Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo district.
The participants are transported by the organizing team to the starting point of Nicopole together with the equipment and luggage for the whole team.
The departure is done early in the morning from Nicopolis, where after a little instruction from the guide we shall start the tour and we shall sail down the Danube towards Persina Island and the Persinski blata and Persin-Iztok natural areas, where the Danube is divided by two arms.
Camping and overnight stays shall take place in Belene, where we shall start the next morning with rest and fresh forces after breakfast, to help the end of the route in Svishtov.
This route can be shortened to just 1 day and the participants will be taken over by the organizing team from Belene.
Touristic objectives in area
Veliko Turnovo (Tarnovgrad) was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1187-1393). The town was situated on three hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora. The main Royal Palace, the patriarchate and other important state buildings were located behind the walls of Tsarevets fortress.
Tsarevets hill was natural inaccessible. The whole stronghold was girdled by thick walls (reaching up to 3,6 m) and was served by three gates. The main gate was at the hill`s westernmost part, on a narrow rock massif, and featured a draw-bridge. The second gate is 18 m away from the first one and there was third one, which existed until 1889.
Nowadays the fortress is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bulgaria. Points of interest there are the Patriarchate complex (restored in 1981), The Baldwin`s Tower (where Latin Emperor Baldwin I of Constantinople found his death as a prisoner of Tzar Kaloyan), and more.
Old Waterfall spring is located near Veliko Tirnovo, on the edge Stara Planina mountains. It is accessible by a paved road. According to locals, once the water flowed a little more and fall in the form of beautiful waterfalls. Subsequently there has been a movement of the layers of the earth and the source was moved to the former foot waterfalls. In spring there are benches and a picnic table.
The Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel is located in the southern part of the Arbanasi Village. The oldest part of the church was built in the XVIIth century. The recent archeological studies show that it was built on the foundation of an older church dating from the thirteenth and fourteenth. There is evidence that since XVIIIth century to XIXth century, the church was a monastery. Inside, the entire church was decorated with frescoes. The church has a complex architectural and composition system. The entrance into the church is made from the west. The real Church id made of altar, the nave and narthex, located in series along the longitudinal axis. On the northern side is a chapel dedicated to St. Paraskeva and a spacious entry.
The church is very modest from the outside, but it impresses with splendid paintings on the walls. Very special are the images of the saints-women painted in a starry sky. The icon painted in wood was made by painters from the Tryavna Art School.
The clock tower in Svishtov was built at the entrance of the commercial street by master Bogdan in 1763 for the needs of the working class people in Svishtov. An inscription in Arabic on two marble tablets gives details of its construction.
The tower consists of a main building and a double wooden superstructure.
In 1890 a new watch was installed, built in Austria.
The clock tower in Svishtov is a cultural monument of national importance.
The ruins of the ancient Roman fortress-town "Novae" (aka "Nove") are located about 4 kilometres east of the todays town of Svishtov. The town was founded when in 48 here arrived VIII Roman Legion of Augustus and built its first camp. Later (in year 69-70) it was replaced by one of the three elite legions of Emperor Vespasiyan - I Italic (Legio I Italica) and a permanent camp was founded here for around four centuries.
Together with Sexaginta Prista, Durostorum and Ratsiaria, the town of Nove formed the outer defensive ring of Roman Empire on the Danube River.
The military camp stopped its existence in the second quarter of V century after the Huns invasion on the Balkans. Later, at same place, a large late-antique town was built.
The historical reservation Tekir Dere is located near Svishtov city. This is the place the Russian troops landed during the Russian-Turkish war. In the honour of the of the Russian soldiers were placed commemorative markers.
At the 100 anniversary of the landing of the Russian troops and the liberation of Svishtov city from the ottoman domination, the city council decided to build a new monument. The new monument was built in the period 1978-1979, following the design of Emil Dulev, Arh. Dimitar Krastev, and the sculptor Dimitar Banovska.
The new monument is 24 m high and 7.5 m wide. It represents two raised arms forming an arch and inside is represented a scene with Russian soldiers with armours on natural scale.
Since 1969 the Valley of Tekir Dere River was declared historic reservation and because of the commemorative monuments the population started to call the area “The Monuments”.
Today the only silent witness of the Russian liberation is a small mill built at the mouth of Tekir Dere River. The rehabilitated mill is hosting a museum with an exhibition dedicated to the landing of the Russian troops on the Bulgarian coast and the liberation of Svishtov city from the ottoman oppression.
“The Monuments” – well-kept despite the remote distance from the city is the favourite place for recreation and walking of Svishtov inhabitants.
The Ethnographic Museum in town of Svishtov is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Svishtov - Sladkarovata house. The building was constructed in 1800 and is very impressive, resembling a small castle.
The house is unusual for the region and is built in a Balkan (mountain) region style. It was built by G. Sladkarov, modeled on the mountain houses in Arbanassi village, from where Sladkorov has moved to Svishtov.
The house is known also by the fact that this is the first Bulgarian house that Emperor Alexander II visited in here after the liberation of the town in June 27, 1877 during the Russo-Turkish War.
Address of the Ethnographic Museum Svishov: 14, Georgi Vladikin str. town of Svishtov
Route map
