(Never) Forget Your Past - Buzludzha Monument




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  • 2017-09-30 19:56:32
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[caption id="attachment_36656" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The Buzludzha Monument, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The Buzludzha Monument, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption]   The Buzludzha Monument, also known as the Monument-Home of the Bulgarian Communist Party, is one of the historical sights in Bulgaria, which strikes controversy among the Bulgarian people. Some revere it as a unique building because of its design, colossal structure, and cultural significance, while others perceive it as a dark symbol of the era of totalitarianism in Bulgarian history. The building is located on the Hadzhi Dimitar peak, Stara Planina mountain, 1441 meters above the sea level. The architect behind the design of the Buzludzha Monument is Georgi Sotilov. His idea was to incorporate the image of an open communist flag (the tower with the red star) and a ceremonial wreath (the solemn hall) constructed in memory of Dimitar Blagoev, the founder of the Socialist movement in Bulgaria. The creation of the monument celebrated three different historical events. The first one was the 90th anniversary of the Buzludzha Congress in 1891, which symbolizes the beginning of the socialist movement in Bulgaria. The second was related to the historical value of the peak itself – in 1868 the Bulgarian revolutionary Hadzhi Dimitar laid down his life fighting in the name of Bulgarian independence. 1981, the year when construction was finalized, also marked the 1300th anniversary of the creation of Bulgaria (the country was founded in 681). Because of it, the Bulgarian government had initialized the establishment of different monuments around the country, such as the Monument-Home of the Bulgarian Communist Party at Buzludzha and the 1300 Years Bulgaria Monument in Sofia, which would come to symbolize the long history of the country. [caption id="attachment_36692" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The view from the parking, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The view from the parking lot, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] The construction of the Buzludzha Monument began on Jan. 23, 1974 as the total sum the Bulgarian Government paid for its creation amounted to 14 186 000 BGN. According to Georgi Stoilov, in order to raise the money for the construction the government at the time issued postage stamps with the image of the 'future' monument. The architect also shared that the governing powers were promoting the purchase of the stationary as “advised.” The monument consisted of two main parts – the Star tower and the Solemn hall, each holding a characteristic design feature. On top of the Star Tower the architect placed two 12-meter red stars (one for each side of the tower), a symbol of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Each one was built with the use of ruby glass, delivered from Kiev, Ukraine. Inside the tower a light projector was installed so that it could transmit light through the two stars, which would later on illuminate the area around the monument in red (the signature color of the Bulgarian Communist Party). [caption id="attachment_36696" align="alignnone" width="2833"]The Star Tower, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The Star Tower, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] The second part of the monument is the solemn hall, also referred to as the saucer. Stoilov shared that he wanted to create something similar to the Pantheon in Rome, which would celebrate the accomplishments and the sacrifices of the Bulgarian Socialist movement. He points out that the architectural difference between the two monuments is in terms of their size – the diameter of the Pantheon is around 40 meters, while that of the Buzludzha monument - 60 meters. Each of the walls were hand-decorated with cobalt mosaics, designed by Bulgarian artists. Among the images, portrayed on the walls of the hall, were the portraits of six people, who had influenced the social movement in Bulgaria – Dimitar Blagoev, Georgi Dimitrov, Todor Zhivkov, Friedrich Engels, Joseph Stalin, and Vladimir Lenin. [caption id="attachment_36666" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The Solemn Hall, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The Solemn Hall, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] Aug. 23, 1981 celebrated the opening ceremony of the Home-Monument of the Bulgarian Communist Party. The president and leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party at the time, Todor Zhivkov, led the ceremony:
“Let the pathways leading here – to the legendary Buzludzha Peak, here in the Stara Planina where the first Marxists came to continue the work of sacred and pure love that was started by Bulgaria’s socialist writers and philosophers – never fall into disrepair." said Zhivkov. "Let generation after generation of socialist and communist Bulgaria come here, to bow down before the feats and the deeds of those who came before; those who lived on this land and gave everything they had to their nation."
When Zhivkov was removed from power in Nov. 1989, the monument fell into decay and destruction. By an order of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the mosaic image of the former Bulgarian president was removed from the walls inside the solemn hall. Three years later, the government took ownership of the monument, however, without committing to maintain it. As a result, the Monument-Home suffered damages, caused by thieves who came after the valuable architectural peaches incorporated into the design. The building was no longer viewed as a monument that celebrated the history of Bulgaria, but rather as a symbol of the communist regime in Bulgaria.
“I would prefer if the monument is left to decay slowly in years, in order to remind us of that dark period in our history - in order not to forget the past, not to make the same mistakes,” commented Ilko Drenkov, Residence Hall Director of Skaptopara II and History professor at SWU.
[caption id="attachment_36662" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The face of Todor Zhivkov removed from the walls, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The face of Todor Zhivkov removed from the walls, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] Due to the current condition of the building, all of the former entrances of the building are blocked. Both the exterior and interior of the building are now painted in graffiti by unknown artist. Above the main entrance, besides the two signs that say “Attention! Danger of falling objects! Please do not Enter!”, there is a red sign which has evolved throughout the years. Historical records of visitors show the red sign saying FORGET YOUR PAST. A couple of years later one word was added to the sign, changing its meaning to NEVER FORGET YOUR PAST. [caption id="attachment_36673" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The sign on top of the main entrance, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The sign on top of the main entrance, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption]   Despite being condemned as a dark symbol of the past, people have developed projects for the restauration of the building and its potential use. In 2015 a foundation called 'Project Buzludzha' introduced an idea of how to rebuild the colossal construction and turn it into a museum. The project is called “Buzludzha – Memory of Time” and aims to reestablish one of the original purposes of the building – the celebration of the 1300-year-old history of Bulgaria. [caption id="attachment_36681" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The only currently active entrance, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The only currently active entrance, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36672" align="alignnone" width="1200"]One of the underground rooms of the monument, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily One of the underground rooms of the monument, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36671" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The entrance hall, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The entrance hall, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36664" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Mosaics, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily Mosaics, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] Optimized-IMG_2069 [caption id="attachment_36661" align="alignnone" width="1200"]The sealing of the Solemn Hall, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily The sealing of the Solemn Hall, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36669" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Mosaics, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily Mosaics, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36663" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Mosaics, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily Mosaics, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36644" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Buzlidzha Monument, Dimitar Brtovanov for AUBG Daily Buzlidzha Monument, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption]