Amazing panoramas reveal form each height of the Rusenski Lom Nature Park. They entangle the endless curves of river valley, the forests, the beautiful jagged rocks, the old fortresses and the settlements. Among the most remarcable is the bird’s eye view of the ruins at Cherven. Rocks outline wide arc and in the foots, on the spacious hill embraced by the Cherni Lom River, the prominent stone ruins of fortifications, churches, residences, workhouses can be seen. The town of Cherven was situated here in thhe times of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (13-th – 14-th centuries), one of the largest military, defensive, administrative, economic and ecclesiastical-cultural centres of the country. The town succeeded early Byzantine fortress, which occupied the highest part of the hill. It existed for a short time but it was later rebuilt and people returned quickly. To the end of the 12-th century there already existed a significant settlement, wich continued expanding and soon turned into a big fortified town. Cherven had the typical characteristics of Middle Ages Bulgarian towns. Built at the top of the rock cliffs was the “inner-city”, placed within a citadel at the highest point of the cliff, around it were the “outer” and “lower” cities. The inner-city had a strong defense system. The tall fortress walls were fortified by four towers, one of which still stands today, and serves as the symbol of old Cherven. Also within the citadel is the feudal castle, serving as its own fortress. Two hidden water tunnels connected to the “inner-city” can still be seen today. Structures abutted each of the city’s boundaries. The stone buildings stood two or three stories high and city streets ran between them. A small city square was located within the defensive walls. Many crafts developed in Cherven. Iron-producing and iron works as well as goldsmiths and various pottery production outlined among these. Town\'s ecomomic growth found expression in prosperous trade, which is proved by the rich treasures of coins discovered. During the first half of the 13-th century Cherven became a bishop\'s residensce. Time has forgotten the names of all except four of its hierarchs: Neofit, Kalinik, Zahari and Pavel, anyway, it was among the most influential ones in the country. The large number of churches built in the town, reflect the strong role of religion. Thirteen churces are known to have existed. The biggest and most representative were both bishop churches. In 1388 the city was conquered and destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. It continued to be an administrative center in the next several centuries, though it finally fell in the 17-th century, and its residents left their cliff-top perch for good. The old town went on living only in memories, but thus it stood for the support, which sustained living Bulgarian traditions and ethos along Lom Valley .