Just a short distance from a lively beach, nestled in a quiet forest near Primorsko, sits the unfinished mansion of Bulgaria’s final communist leader, Todor Zhivkov. Following the fall of the communist regime in 1989, nature started reclaiming this ambitious project, originally meant as a grand symbol of Zhivkov’s authority. Dubbed Perla 2 (“Pearl 2”), this abandoned residence now stands as a fascinating relic of history. Nearby, another structure, Perla 1, similarly stands as a testament to that bygone era.
Today, the colossal structure stands as a skeletal frame of raw reinforced concrete and steel arches. Its numerous wings and countless rooms evoke curiosity, prompting speculation about the intended opulence and which spaces the dictator envisioned for himself. This unfinished mansion also stands as a striking example of brutalist architecture, its exposed structure bearing witness to ambitious dreams that were never fulfilled.
Unfinished stairways wind through the structure, leading to different areas, including a flat roof. The terrace, now resembling a swamp, is submerged in water, overgrown with wetland plants and a few trees. For the brave and adventurous, steps lead down to the basement, where a colony of hundreds, if not thousands, of bats resides—alongside other potential mysteries waiting to be discovered.
