Buzludzha

Bulgaria’s Communist Party Headquarters

The House-Monument of the Bulgarian Communist Party was opened in 1981, to celebrate both the country’s liberation from Ottoman rule and the 1944 victory against Hitler’s fascist domination of Bulgaria

Construction of the monument cost in excess of 14 million Bulgarian levs, that’s almost 7 million euro today. The money was raised from citizens in the form of suggested donations – the architect’s own idea – with the intention of creating a monument for the people, and by the people.

The saucer, along with its 107m tower, was designed by Georgi Stoilov. More than 60 Bulgarian artists collaborated on the design of murals for the site and thousands of volunteers were involved in the construction process. The Soviet star, which adorns the tower of Buzludzha, was three times larger than that at the Kremlin. It was claimed that the red light it emitted could be seen from as far away as Romania in the north and the Greek border in the south.

Bulgarian communism came to an end in 1989 after which the Buzludzha monument was inherited by the State. It was during the mid 90s that the building was ransacked and opened up to the elements, during a period when Bulgaria’s right-wing government was attempting to distance the country from its socialist heritage, at least in part, by vandalising or removing the vestiges of communism. Since then, it’s left to the mercy of the mountain climate and allowed to slowly disintegrate. It’s presenting a powerful symbol of the changing times.

Quote on the entrance:
“on your feet
despised comrades
on your feet you slaves of labour!
downtrodden and humiliated
stand up against the enemy!
let us without mercy, without forgiveness
yes, we take down the old, rotten system…
working men
working women
from all countries come together
forwards! comrades without fear
build strong our great deeds!
to work and to create…”


The main circular chamber

Hammer and sickle – the proletariats of every country join together


Fine mosaic detail



Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Lenin


You can read more about Buzludzha here