Stone Roman bridge, Bulgarene village

Overview

Probably many people do not assume, traveling on the route from Sofia to Ruse or in the opposite direction, what a beautiful creation can be seen even from the road itself, only if you move at a lower speed. This is the Roman bridge over the river Osam. If we travel from Pleven in the direction of Ruse, the bridge is before the village of Balgarene. You have to cross the fork with the detour to Nikopol and at about 250m, on the left there is a dirt country road. All the way, Osam River and the bridge are 500m.

Experts believe that it was built in the XVI century. This really shows that the bridge is not Roman, but from the typical humpback stone bridges of that time. However, for five centuries it stood unshakable over the river. Until now, people use it, although it is no longer part of the main road to the village of Izgrev, which was until 1968.

The bridge has 5 arches, the middle one is the largest and tallest, which makes a hump in its center. It is symmetrical in relation to this hump. The stone from which it is built is clearly visible, and it is clear that nothing has fallen from its arches, despite the fact that it has been exposed to natural forces for so many centuries.