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G Auad, a reader of The Artificial owl nicely sent me some pictures of this incredible abandoned building located in the mountains of his country, Bulgaria. This is the first inclusion on AO of a reader's suggestion, and frankly I hope to get a lot more, because this one is great. Thanks G Auad!
The flying saucer shape building is called the Buzludzha Monument, It is located in Buzludzha National Park in the Central Stara Planina, right in the middle of Bulgaria.
So what is the story of this construction exactly? In 1891 the socialists led by Dimitar Blagoev assembled secretly in the area to form an organised socialist movement. In honour of this act was built the Buzludzha Monument, one of the symbols of the socialism in Bulgaria. The building is now abandoned but still stands alone in the most beautiful landscape.
coordinates : 42°44'07.85"N 25°23'39.20"Egoogle map
pictures sources : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
text source : 1 2
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are you sure that it was made in 1891? Because of the design i would say that is more logical to think it was made in 1981... isn´t it?
i found the answer in one of the links you give: "In 1961 a monument was built here to commemorate this act of heroism."
Found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazanlak#Buzludzha_National_Park
;)
Another interesting east-European political site would be the Hitler's gigantic but ruined bunkers in Poland.
Okay, but you haven't explained what is the purpose in the structure and why is it abandoned. When was it built and when was it abandoned?
What does the partial signage on the face of the building say?
I so want to play a gig there with my band, don't care if no-one shows up :) All we need is a couple of generators and a PA. And beer, lots of beer.
Absolutely incredible. Thanks for the post.
@Matutino
This is not true. The monument you're referring to is the monument on Shipka mt. The building shown is on Buzludzha mt. and it used to be a place where communists held some of their gatherings. Unfortunately, many people died during the erection of the building.
HTH,
Pavel
Wow, love the shadowy labelscar left by the giant letters taken off their mounting hook (as seen in the 6th & 7th photos down).
Great entry, great site--thanks.
David B., just sayin' here very inexactly:
Big monument to socialism prob. went out of style in the wake of Soviet Union/Warsaw Pact dissolution.
The partial signage on the face of the building is The Internationale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale#Original_French_lyrics_and_copyright
I agree with David... what does the slavic language read on the entry? And what is the hands and flames monument that is also shown, was it somehow a part of the site or a coincidence of location?
Wow. Stunning. Check this out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mastababa/2638838968/in/set-72157594477637452/
(Not my photos, my camera was broken when I was there, alas.)
That monument is in Varna, on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Very much in the same style and of the same era as the flying saucer. Officially, the Varna Liberation Monument (search Flickr for that phrase for more images) was built to commemorate the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottomans by Russian forces in 1877 (someone should fact-check that). Unofficially, it served to remind the Bulgarians who was really in charge of their country in the 1970s: the USSR. The Varna monument, like the flying saucer, is totally trashed inside, there is evidence of serious partying. It contains big meeting rooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, it's huge, and was surely magnificent in its brief heyday. Who knows if it was ever actually used, these kinds of communist buildings are almost totally ceremonial, not functional.
I'm trying to determine if this structure was monolithic concrete construction or precast segments. Does anyone know?
A Psytrance Festival would be great fun there too!!!
Kind of sums up communism, Looks great on the outside, stunning and progressive but once inside, a decayed mess of emptiness. Then again that could be said for many of the world governments...
On the left hand side of the picture it says: On foot, Oh, miserable serfs! On foot, you slaves of work! Suppressed and humiliated, stand up against the enemy! Let's without pity, without mercy demolish...[I can't read the rest of the last two lines].
On the right hand side: Male Workers, Female Worker from every where come together. Charge (Forward)! Comrades courageously to build our great deed. To work and to create - to enlighten the worker!...[Again I'm unable to read the last two lines].
As far as I know this building was some kind of ceremonial place for the Bulgarian Communist Party. After 1990, the change to democracy must have rendered the building irrelevant. I personally have never been there, and I suppose that its remote location just makes it unsuitable to be used for anything.
here's something you can watch about buzluzha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHKwX73dNmw&feature=channel_page
of just go to youtube and do a search for 'road to buzludja'