
Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument
The Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument is located 6 km away from Shumen, at 450 m above mean sea level. It stands on Ilchov bair Hill, on the territory of Shumen Plateau Nature Park.
The idea to build the monument was conceived in 1977 during the preparations for the celebration of the 1300th anniversary since the establishment of the Bulgarian state (681). Construction began in August 1979 and the monument was officially opened on 28 November 1981. The monument was designed and built by sculptors Krum Damyanov and Ivan Slavov, architects Georgi Gechev and Blagoy Atanasov, artists Vladislav Paskalev and Stoyan Velev, and design engineer P. Hadzhov.
The monument consists of two groups of concrete blocks separated from one another by small spaces. The biggest outdoor mosaic-triptych in Europe can be seen here. Together with 21 sculptures, they symbolise the establishment, development and progress of the Bulgarian state in the period 7th – 10th centuries.
Khan Asparuh (who is considered to be the founder of Bulgaria) is depicted first, standing with his sword stuck in the ground, hands raised and pointing in different directions to where the Bulgarian state will be. His sculpture is followed by the 18 m-tall sculptures of Tervel, Krum, and Omurtag (Bulgarian khans who reigned in the 8th and the 9th centuries). They are surrounded by fragments of old Byzantine chronicles. The wise thought of Khan Omurtag is inscribed beneath them: “Even if a man lives well, he dies and another one comes into existence. Let the one who comes later, upon seeing this inscription, remember the one who had made it… And the name is Omurtag, Kanasubigi.”
A cross of light forms lays at the upper part of the monument as a symbol of the Christian religion which Bulgarians converted into in the 9th century.
11 figures represent the Golden Age of Bulgaria under the reign of Simeon the Great (893 – 927). The sculpture of the ruler is surrounded by men of letters, boyars, and soldiers. A reproduction of a section of the fortress wall of Veliki Preslav (Great Preslav – an old Bulgarian capital) lies opposite this composition.
The concrete panels on which the mosaic-triptych is laid are arranged at different angles so as to demonstrate the gradual development of the state.
A granite lion weighing 1000 tons is placed on the top of the memorial.
The development of the Bulgarian state is demonstrated by three different types of alphabet: the first one is runic, composed of cuts and lines used by Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs, followed by the Glagolitic alphabet created by the brothers Cyril and Methodius and ending with the Cyrillic alphabet – the writing system of all Slavonic peoples.
The Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument is 140 m long and 70 m tall. 2300 cu m of earth were excavated and 2400 tons of reinforcement steel and 50 000 cu m of concrete were used for its construction.
There are visitor information centre and apermanent exhibition to the monument. Wedding ceremonies are often performed there.
Opening hours:
1 May – 15 October – 08.00 am – 8.00 pm.
6 October – 30 April – 08.30 am – 5.00 pm.
Admission:
Adults – BGN 3.
Children and Students – BGN 1.
Lectures (in Bulgarian, French, Russian, Czech, and English) – BGN 5.
Audio recorded lectures (in German, Turkish and Polish) – BGN 5.
Binoculars (for 10 min.) – BGN 1.
Wedding ceremony – BGN 90.
Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument, Shumen
Tel: +359 54 87 21 07
Tel: +359 54 87 25 98
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ab-bg.com/bg1300
Visitors can get to the monument from Shumen by climbing a stairway of 1300 steps. There are 13 landings along the stairway, which begins at Vasil Drumev Drama Theatre. There is also a scenic road to the monument starting from Shumen.
Guides are available at the monument. The members of staff speak Bulgarian, French, Russian, Czech, and English.
Visits to the monument involve a long climb of 1300 steps. Wear comfortable clothes and low-heeled shoes.
”MADARA HORSEMAN” MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE OF TOURISM – SHUMEN
Contacts
Tel: +359 54 857773
Website: www.tourism-shumen.com
e-mail: [email protected]
17, Slavyanski Blvd, town of Shumen, 9700
Services
1. Free securing, updating and providing schedules of transport means – trains, autobuses, airplanes, ships, etc.
2. Paid reservations for transportation, accommodation, catering, visits of cultural, sports, etc. events.
3. Paid tour guide services.
4. Paid computer /text processing, working with the internet, printing/ and copying services.
5. Paid distribution of all ties of tourist and cultural advertising materials – on paper media /leaflets, cards, postcards, brochures, guide books, albums, manuals, books, etc./, on electronic media /video, CD and DVD records/ and souvenirs, and works of arts and crafts.
6. Providing motor vehicles, mini buses and buses for rent.
7. Paid intermediation for visiting and examining of ethnographic sites, Bulgarian folklore dances, music and rituals, and participation in courses for their studying.
8. Using an electronic advertising board within fixed terms.
9. Sale of phone cards and telephone tokens.
Contacts:
Tel: +359 54 857773
www.tourism-shumen.com
[email protected]
Virtual map
Pictures
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