Glozhene is a village in the municipality of Teteven, Lovech District. It is 56 km southwest of the regional town of Lovech, 12 km southeast of the town of Teteven, 12 km northwest of the town of Yablanitsa and about 105 km east of the capital Sofia. The population is about 1000 people. The village is located on the banks of the Vit River at the foot of the Balkan Mountains, at 320 m altitude. The climate is characterized by relatively mild winters and cool summers. Ecologically clean area with a favorable climate and numerous natural landmarks. Legend has it that during his camp near the holy spring, Ivan Asen II was fascinated by the tranquility, fresh air and incredible nature of this place and after his return to Tarnovgrad, ordered a residence to be built right there (today’s “Kulata” area in the Asen neighborhood) where his five-year-old daughter Elena, suffering from lung disease, could be treated. The traces of human presence in the lands of today’s Glozhene, found in the Morovitsa cave, suggest that the area was inhabited as early as the late Paleolithic (Old Stone Age). Flint tools, millstones, pottery, etc. were found.
Later the area was inhabited by the Thracians (in the museum of Glozhene you can see some of the finds). Roads from the Roman era that led along the river and through the Balkan Mountains are still visible – along the ridge of Vasiliovska Mountain through Vrua (top) above the village, the remains of a fortress, a watchtower on the left bank of the river. According to one legend, in the distant past the village was located a little further north on the left bank of the river and was called Chiren Pazar. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Kiev prince George Glozh came to Bulgaria, persecuted by the Tatars, and Tsar Ivan Asen II offered him land here. According to another version of the legend, the prince with his company helped Ivan Asen II to overthrow Boril who ascended to the throne and as a sign of gratitude received this land. In 1223 he founded a settlement and it was called by his name. High on a rock he built a monastery resembling an inaccessible medieval castle-fortress – the Glozhene Monastery. The close connection of the village with the Glozhene Monastery – a large educational center during the Renaissance, had a huge impact on the habitants of Glozhene. Around 1820 a school was opened, and in 1873 two teachers trained 220 students. In 1870 Vasil Levski founded in Glozhene a local revolutionary committee, which became one of the most numerous. Besides the Glozhene Monastery “St. George” other attractions in the area are the two churches “St. Nicholas” and “St. Martyr Dimitar”, as well as the cave “Morovitsa” and the waterfall “Vara”, better known as “Glozhene waterfall”. In the area of the village there are two eco-trails: Ecopath “Glozhene Monastery” – village of Glozhene – Glozhene Monastery and Ecopath “Glozhene Monastery” – cave “Morovitsa”, where tourists can enjoy wonderful views. The village organizes a holiday of local craftsmen in May and a Traditional Glozhene fair in August. For visitors, there are several guest houses to stay.
Teteven Municipality is located in Northern Bulgaria. It is located in the valley of the Vit River, surrounded by the beautiful peaks of Zlatishko – Teteven Mountain, which stretches east from the Zlatitsa Pass to the low Ribarishki Pass. The geographical location of the municipality favors its development due to the proximity of large administrative centers and good transport links with Sofia, an international airport and a cross-border bridge on the Danube River “Vidin-Calafat”.
Structurally determining sectors for the local economy in the municipality of Teteven are industry, trade, tourism /hotel and restaurants/ and agriculture. Logging and wood processing are traditional sectors for the area.
The majority of enterprises are concentrated in the city of Teteven, which is shaping up as the main economic center of the municipality. Most enterprises have moved their capacities to the peripheral parts of the city, as their production requires the occupation of large areas. Thus, two production zones were established in the city – one in its northwestern part and one in the southeast.
The economy of Teteven Municipality is developing on the basis of available local resources and traditional productions. Industry is one of the main sectors of the economy. Local industry is primarily light. Leading in the economic structure of the municipality is the manufacturing industry, represented by the woodworking industry, the production of furniture and office equipment, the tailoring and food industry /food processing /meat and milk//. The most promising at the moment is the production of furniture, while the clothing industry and the food industry are gradually reducing the volume of their production.
Logging and woodworking. The development of the sector in Teteven is determined by the availability of raw materials – significant forest massifs (over 200 ha of municipal forests, many private and state forest areas). Companies in this sector are engaged in the production of furniture, doors and joinery and other wooden products, as well as logging.
Mechanical Engineering and Electronics – there are two companies: one has more than 40 years of experience in the production of electric motors, and the other is engaged in the production of electronic equipment, installation and adjustment of electronic assemblies and products.
The textile and clothing industry is less developed on the territory of the municipality. There are several small workshops in which mainly tolling production or small orders are sewn. Companies in this sector produce products from cotton and woolen fabrics, women’s clothing, bed linen, yarn and fabrics.
In the area there is a factory for all kinds of brushes, as well as a factory for blinds.
Teteven Municipality is among the popular destinations for recreation and tourism in Bulgaria and the sector has been developing successfully in recent years. The territory has rich tourist resources, historical and natural resources for mountain, ecological, adventure, cultural-historical, cognitive, recreational, pilgrimage, event, rural tourism, hunting and fishing. The recreation and entertainment base is also well developed, but the tourism potential of the municipality is not yet fully used for income generation and economic growth.
An Advisory Council on Tourism has been formed at the Municipality of Teteven, including representatives of NGOs and owners of accommodation places and food and entertainment establishments, etc.