Socialist Bulgaria: Monumental Art
Bulgaria
The communist ideology introduced in Bulgaria after WW2 came with terror and later with propaganda. One of the strongest tools was monumental art — and Bulgaria's is truly unique. Let us show you how a tour dedicated to a dark ideology can be a very interesting and remarkable one.
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Route Map
Day by Day
Itinerary
Sofia
Arriving & City Tour
Arriving at Sofia. Transfer from the airport. Tour around the city center with not only an accent on the socialist art, but of course with a special attention to some of the most remarkable monuments there. The Monument of the Soviet Union Red Army (demolished), and the Museum of Socialist Art.
Sofia
Arriving & City Tour
Arriving at Sofia. Transfer from the airport. Tour around the city center with not only an accent on the socialist art, but of course with a special attention to some of the most remarkable monuments there. The Monument of the Soviet Union Red Army (demolished), and the Museum of Socialist Art.
Day Trip West from Sofia
Gurgulyat · Partisan Monument · Pernik
Not far from the capital city we visit several amazing places. We start from Gurgulyat, a very small village with a great unique monument, landed there from a distant planet. The monument was built during socialism, but is dedicated to one of the wars for National Unification. The second stop is a totally forgotten place, almost on the border with Serbia — a very typical partisan's monument and one of my favorite hidden gems. On the way back to Sofia we stop in Pernik, which in the days of communism used to be the heart of the heavy industry. We see the very Stalin's baroque building of the city's cultural center.
Day Trip West from Sofia
Gurgulyat · Partisan Monument · Pernik
Not far from the capital city we visit several amazing places. We start from Gurgulyat, a very small village with a great unique monument, landed there from a distant planet. The monument was built during socialism, but is dedicated to one of the wars for National Unification. The second stop is a totally forgotten place, almost on the border with Serbia — a very typical partisan's monument and one of my favorite hidden gems. On the way back to Sofia we stop in Pernik, which in the days of communism used to be the heart of the heavy industry. We see the very Stalin's baroque building of the city's cultural center.
Sofia → Plovdiv
Panagyurishte · Plovdiv City Tour
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and we can't miss it. It is also the oldest still living city in Europe, so we will have a lot to see. Before entering the eternal city, we make a short stop in Panagyurishte and capture the very monumental site dedicated to the biggest anti-Ottoman Bulgarian uprising. In Plovdiv we explore the Alyosha monument and the remarkable brutalist architecture of the city's socialist-era landmarks.
Sofia → Plovdiv
Panagyurishte · Plovdiv City Tour
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and we can't miss it. It is also the oldest still living city in Europe, so we will have a lot to see. Before entering the eternal city, we make a short stop in Panagyurishte and capture the very monumental site dedicated to the biggest anti-Ottoman Bulgarian uprising. In Plovdiv we explore the Alyosha monument and the remarkable brutalist architecture of the city's socialist-era landmarks.
Plovdiv → Dimitrovgrad → Stara Zagora → Kazanlyk
Dimitrovgrad · Stara Zagora · Buzludzha
This day will be remembered! The first stop is Dimitrovgrad, a city built in the early 50's by volunteers and named after the first communist leader of Bulgaria, our beloved Father and Teacher Georgy Dimitrov. The city is a perfect example of Stalin's baroque and a symbol of proletarian brotherhood. Second stop is Stara Zagora to see the monument dedicated to the Russian Royal Army. Last but not least, in the late afternoon we arrive in Kazanlyk — the capital of the Rose Valley, the capital of the Thracian kings valley, and the home of the most astonishing monument on planet Earth — Buzludzha.
Plovdiv → Dimitrovgrad → Stara Zagora → Kazanlyk
Dimitrovgrad · Stara Zagora · Buzludzha
This day will be remembered! The first stop is Dimitrovgrad, a city built in the early 50's by volunteers and named after the first communist leader of Bulgaria, our beloved Father and Teacher Georgy Dimitrov. The city is a perfect example of Stalin's baroque and a symbol of proletarian brotherhood. Second stop is Stara Zagora to see the monument dedicated to the Russian Royal Army. Last but not least, in the late afternoon we arrive in Kazanlyk — the capital of the Rose Valley, the capital of the Thracian kings valley, and the home of the most astonishing monument on planet Earth — Buzludzha.
Kazanlyk → Varna
Scenic Drive to the Sea Capital
Half of the day we spend driving and enjoying the beauty of Bulgaria. Somewhere around afternoon we arrive at Varna, our sea capital. This gorgeous beauty is another very old city with plenty of interesting sites included in our city tour. The reason why Varna is in our tour is of course one big monument, dedicated to the Bulgarian-Soviet brotherhood.
Kazanlyk → Varna
Scenic Drive to the Sea Capital
Half of the day we spend driving and enjoying the beauty of Bulgaria. Somewhere around afternoon we arrive at Varna, our sea capital. This gorgeous beauty is another very old city with plenty of interesting sites included in our city tour. The reason why Varna is in our tour is of course one big monument, dedicated to the Bulgarian-Soviet brotherhood.
Day Trip North from Varna
Skaliakra Cape · Dobrich
On the second Varna day we move more to the North to see how the Breadbasket of Bulgaria looks like. The region of Dobrudzha is not only rich in food, but also in history. Any kind of history. We go to see the longest cape on our coastline, then Dobrich and its very socialistic view.
Day Trip North from Varna
Skaliakra Cape · Dobrich
On the second Varna day we move more to the North to see how the Breadbasket of Bulgaria looks like. The region of Dobrudzha is not only rich in food, but also in history. Any kind of history. We go to see the longest cape on our coastline, then Dobrich and its very socialistic view.
Varna → Shumen → Veliko Tarnovo
Founders of Bulgaria Monument · Medieval Capital
The first stop not far from Varna is Shumen, a big city located near the first Bulgarian medieval capitals. That was the reason why Shumen was chosen to host the monument dedicated to the Founders of the Bulgarian state. The monument is so impressive that no doubt it must stay on the top positions of world-wide art charts. Second stop is Veliko Tarnovo, the last great capital of the Medieval Bulgarian Empire — right in the center of today's Bulgaria.
Varna → Shumen → Veliko Tarnovo
Founders of Bulgaria Monument · Medieval Capital
The first stop not far from Varna is Shumen, a big city located near the first Bulgarian medieval capitals. That was the reason why Shumen was chosen to host the monument dedicated to the Founders of the Bulgarian state. The monument is so impressive that no doubt it must stay on the top positions of world-wide art charts. Second stop is Veliko Tarnovo, the last great capital of the Medieval Bulgarian Empire — right in the center of today's Bulgaria.
Day Trip to Svishtov
Danube Memorial · Veliko Tarnovo
Short day trip to nearby Svishtov, from where the descent of the Russo-Turkish war started. That's why there, on the bank of the Danube, a memorial was built dedicating the event. We return to Veliko Tarnovo for the evening to enjoy the medieval atmosphere and socialistic art and history of this remarkable city.
Day Trip to Svishtov
Danube Memorial · Veliko Tarnovo
Short day trip to nearby Svishtov, from where the descent of the Russo-Turkish war started. That's why there, on the bank of the Danube, a memorial was built dedicating the event. We return to Veliko Tarnovo for the evening to enjoy the medieval atmosphere and socialistic art and history of this remarkable city.
Veliko Tarnovo → Lykatnik → Sofia
Last Hidden Gem · Return to Sofia
On the way back to Sofia, only a day before the end of this remarkable tour, we stop for the last time at a place far from any normal road — just to enjoy the view, but also to see again that there is no monument on a random spot. They are all way more than just visible places. Every single one carries a deep story and a heavy past.
Veliko Tarnovo → Lykatnik → Sofia
Last Hidden Gem · Return to Sofia
On the way back to Sofia, only a day before the end of this remarkable tour, we stop for the last time at a place far from any normal road — just to enjoy the view, but also to see again that there is no monument on a random spot. They are all way more than just visible places. Every single one carries a deep story and a heavy past.
Departure from Sofia
Transfer to the Airport
Transfer to the airport. End of the tour. We say goodbye with the hope that this journey through Bulgaria's monumental socialist past has left you with unforgettable memories and a deeper understanding of this unique chapter in history.
Departure from Sofia
Transfer to the Airport
Transfer to the airport. End of the tour. We say goodbye with the hope that this journey through Bulgaria's monumental socialist past has left you with unforgettable memories and a deeper understanding of this unique chapter in history.
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