Bulgarian Learning Community and Resources

Buzludzha 

Buzludzha is one of the most famous abandoned buildings in the world. The monument is among the most iconic and significant buildings of post-war modernism in Bulgaria and Europe. 

Located in the heart of the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria, this historical monument symbolizes the country's turbulent past. It was built back in 1981 as a tribute to the Bulgarian Communist Party, but since the fall of communism in 1989, the building has been abandoned and fallen into disrepair.  

The monument is 70 meters tall and has a diameter of 60 meters, making it one of the largest structures in Bulgaria. The interior of the building is as impressive as its oval exterior. 

It featured a large central hall with a capacity of 5000 people, as well as smaller rooms for meetings and offices. The building was adorned with mosaics, murals, and sculptures inside. The mosaics and murals have been vandalized, and the roof has collapsed, allowing rain and snow to enter the building. 

Despite its current state, Buzludzha remains a popular destination for tourists. Fortunately, there is an ongoing project with a professional team working hard to remove the monument from the list of the seven most endangered heritage sites in Europe. It is expected that in 2023, the monument will be restored and open to visitors.

The Monument of Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship  

Photo by Lyura 

The monument is the largest in the Varna region. The idea of ​​building the monument began in 1958. This complex and unique engineering and construction facility was built with the voluntary labor of over 27,000 people.  

The monument is 23 meters high and 48 meters wide, and underneath it, there is a bomb shelter and several rooms. 10,000 tons of concrete were used for its construction. A staircase with 302 steps called the "Stairway of the Victors" leads up to the monument. It stopped functioning as a tourist attraction in 1989 after the change of the government regime. Currently, many locals use the stairs as an excellent spot for exercise. 

The Bath "Maria Luisa" 

Photo by Bulgarian history 

The bath was built in 1938 as the largest urban swimming complex in the Balkans for its time. With a capacity of 5000 people, it quickly became a center of public life in the capital during the summer months.  

In 1983, the state set an ambitious goal to host the European Swimming Championships. To achieve this, they had to demolish the bath and replace it with swimming pools. As the two-year deadline was not enough, it turned out that the complex did not meet the requirements and the competitions were held in another complex. After 1989, the capacity of the complex decreased, and gradually it was neglected, the attendance decreased, and so in 2005, it was finally closed. 

In 2022, the first ideas for the restoration of the pool were announced. 

Airplane An-2 LZ-901 

Photo by Varnadrone 

Airplane An-2 LZ-901 was produced in the 1940s. The aircraft, which is currently abandoned near the village of Kalimantsi, Varna region, was mainly used for parachuting in the late 1970s, but after the transition to democracy, it was left abandoned at the airport. 

There is an idea to move the airplane to Varna, where it will be turned into an attraction. 

Vasil Mavrikov (factory) 

Photos by Boliarinews

In the ancient town of Veliko Tarnovo town, there is an abandoned factory complex, which used to be textile manufacturer. The company was founded in 1898 as a small sewing factory. It was nationalized in 1947 and declared bankrupt in 1998. 

Photo by Atlas Obscura

Nowadays, the factory is an open area for graffiti artists. A colorful mural of a farmer with the sun sets behind him, white tiger in a military cap cackling to itself, a 20-meter Communist-era mural featuring doughty workers, an assortment of gorgeous hats, and a terribly grim horse are some of the graffiti inspirations inside the factory.