The
SOF
8.
National Gallery
The Palace
1, Knyaz Alexander I Square
HISTORY and ARCHITECTURE The Palace was built in 1882 right after the Liberation from the 500-year Ottoman Rule, when Sofia became the new capital of Bulgaria. It was built onto the preserved foundations of the old konak (the Ottoman governance of Sofia). The building was immediately refurbished and changed in line with the European architectural trends.
It was designed at two stages by famous architects that were emblematic for the city – architect Viktor Rumpelmayer, Adolf Vaclav Kolar, architect Friedrich Grunanger and Nikola Lazarov. The first floor hosted the offices and work premises of the King, and the North-Eastern wing contained the personal apartments of the Royal family. The palace has a throne and ball halls, offices and reception rooms, dining-room, library, personal apartments of the Royal family, rooms for the staff and even elevator.
The style is abundant, ornamented and in a style that was modern at the time, with beautiful railings and winter gardens, with numerous wrought iron elements, meandering staircases and wooden-carved doors.
The palace was residence and office of three Bulgarian monarchs – right after the Liberation, of knyaz Alexander of Battenberg and after him of the Cobourg dynasty – tsar Ferdinand and tsar Boris III. After the overthrow of the monarchy in Bulgaria and during the communist period, most of the interior was destroyed, unfortunately. The beautiful fences and the royal coats of arms were eliminated (actually, just one survived until today). The anterior part and the park were eliminated, and a street, square and mausoleum (which is no longer existent) were constructed instead.
Today, the building is a complex of national museums – mainly of National Art Gallery, and when it comes to the part where king’s private rooms were located, it is an Ethnographic Museum.
NEAR BY you can see also
RUSSIAN
CHURCH
"ST. NICHOLAY"
A Russian orthodox temple that was built in the tradition of the Russian church architecture. There are 5 gold-covered domes in the form of bulbs according to the example of the Russian temples dated back to the XVII century, combined with Old Russian mosaics and wood-carvings. The bells have been gifted by the Russian tsar Nikolay II. In the crypt at the left side the relics of the saint Saint Serafim are located. It is a tradition people to leave at special place letters with prayers and requests to the Saint. They say they come true!
"YELLOW
PAVEMENTS "
Have you already looked down? If you see a yellow stone pavement arranged diagonally, this means you are in Sofia centre.
“The yellow pavements” the way we call the typical stone blocks with which for more than 100 years the city centre has been paved. It was placed in 1907 and even though it was re-arranged on numerous occasions, the stone blocks are the originals that were purchased back then. As the time passed by, they turned into protected cultural value, a symbol of the capital and silent and direct witness of history.
NATIONAL
THEATRE
“The magnificent building is still not yet a theatre. It would become one once inspired by actor’s play” – with these words, at the time of its opening in 1907 the Minister of education welcomed the actors. While following this covenant, today the theatre is the most renown theatre gathering point in Bulgaria. Its repertoire is rich, its troupe is masterfully selected among the best Bulgarian actors from various generations.
