The Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, also known as the Buzludzha Monument, stands atop Buzludzha Peak in central Bulgaria, a creation of the Bulgarian communist government. Unveiled in 1981, its purpose was to commemorate the significant events of 1891, when Dimitar Blagoev convened a clandestine gathering in this region, marking the genesis of an organized socialist movement. This movement eventually paved the way for the formation of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, a precursor to both the Bulgarian Communist Party and the present-day Bulgarian Socialist Party.
Construction of the monument commenced on January 23, 1974, under the guidance of architect Georgi Stoilov, a former mayor of Sofia and a co-founder of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria. Utilizing TNT, they reshaped the peak, reducing its elevation from 1,441 meters to 1,432 meters by removing over 15,000 cubic meters of rock. The project incurred expenses amounting to 14,186,000 leva, roughly equivalent to US$35 million today.
Inside the structure, expansive mosaics portraying the history of the Bulgarian Communist Party cover an area of approximately 937 square meters. Crafting these intricate mosaics demanded a staggering 35 tons of cobalt glass. However, it’s disheartening to note that a significant portion, one-fifth, of these mosaics has already succumbed to deterioration caused by aging, harsh weather conditions, and acts of vandalism.
On the exterior of the monument, mosaics were painstakingly crafted using natural stones sourced from rivers across Bulgaria. Sadly, the ravages of time have taken their toll, and the majority of these outer mosaics have gradually eroded due to natural wear and tear.
The main ceiling mosaic within the building features the iconic communist symbols of the hammer and sickle, encircled by a powerful quote from the Communist Manifesto: “Proletarians of all countries, unite!”
Over the years, various initiatives have been undertaken to protect the monument, largely driven by political efforts linked with the Bulgarian Socialist Party. In 2018, Europa Nostra recognized the monument as one of Europe’s seven most endangered heritage sites. Subsequent preservation efforts began in 2019 through the collaboration of the Buzludzha Project Foundation, ICOMOS Germany, and the municipality of Stara Zagora. Together, they secured a $185,000 grant from the Getty Foundation to develop a Conservation Management Plan for the monument. Initial assessments indicated that the structure could be preserved and repurposed, leading to a second grant from Getty in July 2020 to stabilize surviving mosaic panels. Ongoing endeavors to conserve and protect the monument remain underway.
