Buzludzha Monument: A Landmark of Bulgaria’s Forgotten Past

Behind every majestic monument is a story or cause that was sought to be immortalized. But once their catalysts are forgotten, the once revered structures fall into ruin. Such is the fate of many Soviet Era buildings like the fascinating Buzludzha Monument, which sits on the peak it was named after in central Bulgaria.

Architect Georgi Stoilov, a former mayor of Sofia and co-founder of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria, was tasked by the Bulgarian communist government to design the monument. The construction began in 1974, and the building was inaugurated in 1981. Four decades later, it has been reduced to a decaying reminder of the country’s communist past. In fact, most people only learn of this magnificent monument through Urban Exploration photos and videos.

The Past and Present of Buzludzha Monument

In the video above, we learn about the brief story behind the Buzludzha Monument. At an elevation of 1,432 meters, it served as the pinnacle of the collection of memorials built around the historic Buzludzha Peak. The site was the setting of the 1868 battle between the forces of the Ottoman Empire and the Bulgarian rebels led by Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha. While the rebels fought a losing battle, their efforts eventually inspired the Liberation of Bulgaria ten years later.

Buzludzha Peak became the site of two other important events in Bulgarian history: The founding of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers Party in 1981, and the battle between Communist partisans and Bulgarian Army detachments in 1944.

Preparations for the construction involved leveling the peak from 1,441 meters to 1,432 meters, over which the structure was erected. It removed more than 15,000 cubic meters of rock from the peak. Next, 70,000 tons of concrete, 40,000 tons of reinforced steel, and 3,000 tons of gilded the glass were used to build Buzludzha Monument. The interior was surrounded by mosaics that covered around 937 sqm, commemorating the history of the Bulgarian Communist Party. The dome was also decorated with a grand mosaic that featured the communist hammer and sickle, and a quote from the Communist Manifesto, “Proletarians of all countries, unite!”

After the fall of communism in Bulgaria in 1989, the Buzludzha Monument was abandoned and maintenance was stopped. The building was closed off to the public due to the dangers of the weak structure.

Buzludzha Monument’s New Horizons

“Remember and reuse instead of destruction and abuse.” This is the main goal of the Buzludzha Project, a foundation dedicated to preserving the unloved but historically significant monument.

“We believe that it is important to save Buzludzha, not only because it is a masterpiece of architecture, engineering and art, but also because we should remember our past, especially if it is traumatic or difficult,” the foundation said on why they care about the forgotten monument.

Established by architect Dora Ivanova in 2015, the project has already reached a number of important milestones that take it closer to the goal. Their persistence to the cause led to the recognition of the site in 2018 as one of the 7 Most Endangered Cultural Sites in Europe. A year later, Getty Foundation provided support for the Research, Conservation Planning and Adaptive Reuse Strategy for the monument. Finally, the foundation began the first on-site conservation work in 2020, again with the support of Getty Foundation. Through the Emergency Stabilization of Mosaics of the Buzludzha Monument project, they were able to address the decay of the precious mosaic artworks in the building.

Cover photo by Johnny Africa