Pavlikeni is the administrative centre of Pavlikeni Municipality located in North Bulgaria.
The modern town developed during the 13th and14th centuries as a village called Marinopoltsi. However most of its residents followed the Christian sect of Paulicianism and the name
Pavlikeni derived from this. During the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, the size of
Pavlikeni increased dramatically since many Turks chose to settle here and made it a sole Turkish village.
After the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule in 1877–1878, the Turks left to be replaced by Bulgarians from the Balkan Mountains and the villages of the Danube Plain. After the liberation
Pavlikeni developed as a market town focusing on craftsmanship and agricultural trade.
Pavlikeni acquired town status in 1943 primarily due to its position on the Sofia-Varna railway line and today the journey takes around 3 and a half hours to Sofia. As of December 2010, the town had a population of 11,604 inhabitants.
Interestingly,
Pavlikeni Point on Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands is named after
Pavlikeni town in Bulgaria and this point juts out into the English Strait in the Antarctic. Furthermore it features in the recent book
Pavlikeni Point by the Bulgarian writer Dimitar Tomov in 2008.
The Hemus Highway is planned to pass by
Pavlikeni, connecting the capital city of Sofia with the Black Sea city and port of Varna on the Bulgarian Coastline.
The reconstruction of the central square "Freedom" in
Pavlikeni was an idea to improve the town's identity as a whole using the European funds available. It is now a comfortable and peaceful rest area for residents and visitors to
Pavlikeni. The reconstruction works project was funded under the Programme for Rural Development and totaled 1,799,894 BGN lvs and was started and completed within the 4 month programme of works, during the summer of 2012. The construction of fountains, new paving throughout the square, turfed areas, recreational areas, playgrounds and an irrigation system, along with the illumination being new energy-saving lamps were the constituent project elements. The area of this project is almost 13,000 m2 and the square is transformed into a town centre which many Western European towns would yearn for.
What to see and do in Pavlikeni A major tourism location in the town of
Pavlikeni is the Museum of History it was founded in 1978 and it has been home to the cultural and historical heritage of
Pavlikeni and the towns and villages in the region. The Eternal Calendar created after the idea of Father M.Preobrazenski in 1870 is a unique exhibit from the Renaissance period. The visitors of the museum can visit the Historical Ceramics Centre, a large architectural complex 5 km west from
Pavlikeni. It originated on an ancient Thracian settlement and it has accommodation of different sizes and functions that are arranged around the inner courtyard with colonnades. There are also the heating channels, Roman bath, preserved and exhibited glaze-kilns and workshops for the production of ceramic utensils for daily life, building materials, and artistic ceramics. A vast array of artifacts including bronze goods, rings, and bracelets, ceramic lamps, terracotta and children's toys have been found in the complex.
Also the Art Gallery often has interesting local exhibitions of craft. The art gallery has 2 floors, the 1st for paintings, sketches, local crafts and photography whilst the 2nd floor has a permanent exhibition of "Archaeology" antique ceramics (2nd-4th centuries B. C.) "Renaissance" the period of the National liberation from the Ottoman, "Ethnography" an exhibition of every-day life and labour activity of the residents of the municipality of
Pavlikeni during the Renaissance period including exhibits used in agriculture and stock-breeding as well as other craftwork including weaving and the ceramic industry. You can also learn about characteristics of the regional traditions including costumes, textiles and embroidery, house furniture, and the holiday rites such as Easter, Weddings and the holiday Trifon Zarezan or St Tryphons Day. "Modern History" this section exhibits the development of
Pavlikeni after 1878.
Also try exploring
Pavlikeni Zoo. Don't expect a London Zoo or San Diego Zoo but this little garden zoo is alive and well and its inhabitants are almost all indigenous to Bulgaria, all be it that your best chance of seeing them alive will likely be in
Pavlikeni zoo!. Bulgarian zoos don’t have the best reputation in the world; however, you will likely be very pleasantly surprised! To find the zoo, enter
Pavlikeni from Mihaltsi and drive under the railway bridge, when you get to the traffic lights turn right and then drive along the road for approximately 1/2 a kilometre, the zoo is on the right set back and there is some parking in the woods.
Pavlikeni Zoo Park has free admission which in this day and age is incredible. When entering you are greeted by domestic chickens, pheasants and rabbits which enthrall children accompanying you. The animals are clean, well-cared for and look healthy showing this by breeding. The zoo offers an opportunity to see some of the wildlife that is usually only seen through a hunter’s sight on a rifle! Wild boar, goats and deer have large enclosures and are breeding! Once you walk past the domestic animals, the indigenous animals become more magnificent including beautiful wolves and the highlight being undoubtedly the bears. A mating pair is housed in a very large bear pit, with trees, logs and water, plus good indoor accommodation.
Why not visit on a Tuesday, after shopping down the sprawling and diverse street market which attracts shoppers from all over the region on a Tuesday. The town has a good range of coffee shops and some excellent restaurants where you can eat and drink for a fraction of what you would pay 4 hours away down the railway line in Sofia!
Alternative spelling for Pavlikeni: Pavlikeny, Pavlikenny, Pavlickeni, Pavlickenny, Павликени
Nearest Towns: Veliko Tarnovo – 35km, Suhindol – 12k
Nearest Villages: Mihaltsi - 6km Byala Cherkva - 2.5km
Area size of town 42.221km2
Altitude 100 - 199m above sea level
Post code for
Pavlikeni Town - 5200
Latitude 43.243N Longitude 25.322E
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