Mount Buzludzha, Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, August 2011

[Nicola]

This was my first explore in Bulgaria and think I may have peaked too early in my exploration of said parts...I wasn't going to post it initially because when researching the history I found out that people had managed to get up the huge tower - cue a revisit. However it is totally sealed and unless someone cranks open the steel shuttered door I may have to wait a while....

Perched atop Mount Buzludzha there lies an amazing building that often gets referred to as the UFO building. It was here that the foundations of the Socialist Movement in Bulgaria were formed in 1891.

From Wikipedia: Buzludzha is a historical peak in the Central Stara Planina, Bulgaria and is 1441 metres high. In 1868 it was the place of the final battle between Bulgarian rebels led by Hadji Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha and the Turks. In 1891 the socialists led by Dimitar Blagoev assembled secretly in the area to form an organised socialist movement. In honour of this act was built the Buzludzha Monument, one of the symbols of the socialism in Bulgaria.

The monument was completed in 1981 to coincide with the 1300th anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian state and is the largest monument in Bulgaria.

Architect Gueorguy Stoilov designed the Buzludzha Monument as a lasting symbol to Socialist Communism during the height of Soviet influence. It was built manly by the Bulgarian army alongside more than 20 leading artists who created and designed the many murals that can still be seen throughout the building.

After the Government fell from power and the country abandoned Communism it was left abandoned...

Some exteriors...







Verses of “The International” and “The Worker’s March” were inscribed on the entrance of of the memorial.








As if the exterior of the building was not impressive enough - the interior just blew me away...





A close up of the ceiling...








Some of the many murals...














A walk around the outer rim revealed even more murals and stunning scenery...








A walk down into the bowels of the building...

















And a final look outside...





I couldn't resist posting this video that I found on YouTube...




Thanks for looking and if you want to see the rest of the shots I took you can click here