Oriahovo

Oriahovo (or Oryahovo) is one of the port towns in northwestern Bulgaria, administrative centre of Oriahovo municipality. It is situated 78 km north of the district centre town of Vratsa and 200 km of Sofia.

The town's name has evolved through names such as Vаrhov, Orezov, Oreov, Rahovo and, finally, Oriahovo since 1886. The area around Oriahovo has been inhabited since ancient times, as archaeological research has proven with findings from the early Neolithic to Late Middle Ages. A fortress called “Kamaka” (“the Stone”), which existed from the 9th to the 14th century, is located 600 m east from Oriahovo. Nowaday, from this fortress, a tower from the time of the Second Bulgarian State is preserved and provides a beautiful panoramic view of Danube.

Oriahovo was mentioned as an important Danube port in a 1726 book printed in Brussels. The St. George Church was opened in 1837 (which today is declared for cultural monument of national importance), a secular school was built in the town in 1857 and a community centre („chitalishte”) followed in 1871. During the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878, the town was liberated on 21 November 1877 by Romanian forces. A memorial was erected in their honour.

The town is known for its ferryboat service to the Romanian town of Bechet across the Danube. This is the most direct route from Sofia to Romania.

The cultural institutions are: the Historical museum with Ethnographic exposition, the Art gallery, the Community centre etc.

Local landmark is the House-museum of Diko Iliev: a popular musician and composer. He lived in Oriahovo 42 years and started his career as a musician at the local brass band. The town regularly organizes (every August) a Festival of brass band orchestras “Diko Iliev”.

The well-kept sandy river banks and the beautiful island of Esperanto favour the development of fishing, rowing and swimming, and water sports. The villages in the municipality also provide good conditions for developing recreational, cognitive and rural tourism.

Ecotourism could also be developed in the boundaries of the municipality: 3 protected sites with special flora are located near the village of Selanovtsi.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriahovo