Buzludzha Monument
Buzludzha Monument
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- Jon N3,818 contributionsNice spot for photosUnquie space ship like architecture build by the Bulgarian communist government and inaugurated in 1981. Although the place is run down, it’s still a nice photo spot with nice surroundings. There’s a policeman stationed there to ensure people don’t go inside the building.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 December 2023
- dgjohanssonRonneby, Sweden1,621 contributionsA must if you are anywhere even close to this placeA very special place and a very special building well worth seeing in spite of its dark history. To get there is the trick! So a short guide... The road is a winding road with hair pin corners, but it is fairly well maintianed and the potholes shows up in the end of the road. In winter, check the weather carefully. The road is cleared up towards the lodges close to the final part of the road, but even if there is no snow in the valley or even 80% up the road, there might be snow on the top making you have to walk (in snow) to get to the monument. Be prepared for that! And as you problably might know, you can't enter the building but seing it from the outside and taking in the views are good enough even if I had liked to see the mosaic wqlls inside.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 January 2024
- Sands and Sunshine263 contributionsTruly extraordinary building!The monument is located on the very peak of the mountain and the weather is quite rough. Be sure to wear wind/rain resistant clothes. The view of the area is incredible. The monument definitely has it's charm. The location has been used in multiple music video productions by successful bands such as Haloo Helsinki! and Kensington. Even some scenes of the movie "Mechanic: Resurrection" were filmed there. When I visited the building was locked and there was a security guy patrolling around, you cannot get inside. I know that the building could be seen as a (somewhat) shameful historical leftover, after all it is the Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, but obviously there is public interest. It will be pity if we don't make use of it and let the building gradually fall apart.Visited April 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 20 May 2024
- W HBoonton, New Jersey9 contributionsOne of the coolest human structures you ever seeOne of the coolest human structures you ever see, in a remote dramatic mountain setting. There's no public transportation to get there, you will need to drive or taking a taxi. Road condition is not bad, and there're couple of other interesting sights nearby in the rose valley, perfect for a day trip from Sofia.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 May 2024
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JJ
Berlin, Germany698 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Unfortunately completely closed (even the more clandestine routes you might find online) yet still impressive to see.
Route to the monument is best coming from the south (good road), yet route from the west is also very doable with a regular car, despite what other reviews say. This route also gets you past a couple of massive concrete & steel torches.
Route to the monument is best coming from the south (good road), yet route from the west is also very doable with a regular car, despite what other reviews say. This route also gets you past a couple of massive concrete & steel torches.
Written 19 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dgjohansson
Ronneby, Sweden1,621 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
A very special place and a very special building well worth seeing in spite of its dark history. To get there is the trick! So a short guide...
The road is a winding road with hair pin corners, but it is fairly well maintianed and the potholes shows up in the end of the road. In winter, check the weather carefully. The road is cleared up towards the lodges close to the final part of the road, but even if there is no snow in the valley or even 80% up the road, there might be snow on the top making you have to walk (in snow) to get to the monument. Be prepared for that! And as you problably might know, you can't enter the building but seing it from the outside and taking in the views are good enough even if I had liked to see the mosaic wqlls inside.
The road is a winding road with hair pin corners, but it is fairly well maintianed and the potholes shows up in the end of the road. In winter, check the weather carefully. The road is cleared up towards the lodges close to the final part of the road, but even if there is no snow in the valley or even 80% up the road, there might be snow on the top making you have to walk (in snow) to get to the monument. Be prepared for that! And as you problably might know, you can't enter the building but seing it from the outside and taking in the views are good enough even if I had liked to see the mosaic wqlls inside.
Written 1 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon N
Singa3,818 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Unquie space ship like architecture build by the Bulgarian communist government and inaugurated in 1981. Although the place is run down, it’s still a nice photo spot with nice surroundings. There’s a policeman stationed there to ensure people don’t go inside the building.
Written 3 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DGJ
1 contribution
May 2022
I realized that I live practically next door to this monument! So I often visit. It's a nice moment of reflection, just you, the wind, and the spectacular view. And then on to one of the hotels nearby for a spot of lunch.
It's at 1,500m (ish) at the top of the ridge of the Balkan Mountains, just outside the Central Balkan National Park. This is a pretty part of the mountain range, and below you have the Shipka Church, the Valley of the Roses, and the Valley of the Thracian Kings. It's a happening spot, man.
You think it's big... but it's huge! You just don't get the scale until you reach it. Astonishing that this massive project was built on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. And quite sad to watch it fall apart of the years. There's no inside, no museum, just you and this concrete edifice.
However, I post in order to point out that Bulgaria has finally realized this is a world-class bit of construction, and shouldn't be allowed to crumble. Yay! There are plans to get it listed as a national monument. And the Getty Foundation gave them a nice grant for a preservation plan. I am hopeful that, over the next few years, we will see some progress, and one day we'll have a museum and a cafe up here. Can you imagine the view from those windows?
It's at 1,500m (ish) at the top of the ridge of the Balkan Mountains, just outside the Central Balkan National Park. This is a pretty part of the mountain range, and below you have the Shipka Church, the Valley of the Roses, and the Valley of the Thracian Kings. It's a happening spot, man.
You think it's big... but it's huge! You just don't get the scale until you reach it. Astonishing that this massive project was built on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. And quite sad to watch it fall apart of the years. There's no inside, no museum, just you and this concrete edifice.
However, I post in order to point out that Bulgaria has finally realized this is a world-class bit of construction, and shouldn't be allowed to crumble. Yay! There are plans to get it listed as a national monument. And the Getty Foundation gave them a nice grant for a preservation plan. I am hopeful that, over the next few years, we will see some progress, and one day we'll have a museum and a cafe up here. Can you imagine the view from those windows?
Written 24 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
W H
Boonton, NJ9 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
One of the coolest human structures you ever see, in a remote dramatic mountain setting. There's no public transportation to get there, you will need to drive or taking a taxi. Road condition is not bad, and there're couple of other interesting sights nearby in the rose valley, perfect for a day trip from Sofia.
Written 21 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JonDoe04134
Umeå, Sweden4,312 contributions
Apr 2022
A remnant of the communist regime that can be seen from miles away. Impressive in both its location and architecture. We took the route from the South which was pretty good apart from maybe the last kilometer or so, so leave your Ferrari at home. Jokes aside, if you have a car and are travelling across Bulgaria, it's a perfect stop, not only for the impressive monument but also for the marvelous view from the top. It's illegal to go inside and as far as I could see it was quite impossible too. It featured in the movie Mechanic: Resurrection with Jason Statham, but it could easily have been used as a site for any Bond villain's secret operations.
Written 2 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill S
Grand Rapids, MN246 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We made the long trek up the mountain, and thoroughly loved it. At the “entrance” (?) by the torches, we had to wait for horses to clear the road. No wonder communism failed when the nation’s headquarters are placed in such a forlorn, albeit majestic, spot. The site is intriguing, trying to imagine the people who walked here and speeches that occurred. A great place for a lesson in communism… egos, poor decisions, and failure all combined to leave a failing relic, soon to collapse, as a symbol to the past, visible for miles and miles around. Majesty and irony combined to leave a scar on the landscape atop the skeletons of the innocent. Don’t miss it.
Written 8 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DlkStokes
Bournemouth, UK205 contributions
Aug 2022
It is massive! My daughter and I had a car arranged by our Hotel in Kazanlak. It cost us around £30 for the afternoon. English speaking driver. This is a great place to visit. There was a small souvenir stall but no refreshments, lots of people though. The location is wonderful and I am sure people just come because you can see it from so far away. Well worth the trip
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nuno a
Braga, Portugal147 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
the place is officially closed... if you want see inside, you need to find the "entrance" by your self...
recently they installed video cameras and alarm.. if you find the entrance be aware about the alarm sensores... if the alarm start to ring , you have 15min to get out... the security and police could show up....
recently they installed video cameras and alarm.. if you find the entrance be aware about the alarm sensores... if the alarm start to ring , you have 15min to get out... the security and police could show up....
Written 16 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D S
Sofia, Bulgaria1 contribution
Jan 2014 • Friends
Born in Kazanlak, I've been at Hadzhi Dimitar peak (called Buzludzha in the past) many times. The area offers excellent skiing conditions for a place that is not considered a dedicated winter resort, also not having the facilities for that, so I used to go on walks with my family when I was younger. I even had the chance to once go inside, when it was still functioning, and the experience compared to being part of a sci-fi paradise in the 80's, but from some centuries ahead, ahead in time...
The area is both beautiful and very peaceful, if you do not count the permanent wind. Actually this is one of the places worldwide I've visited that has constant wind, no matter what. Sometimes it is like a breeze and very pleasant but considering the nearly 6-month winter, it could be quite a pain in the cold. The mountain itself, which Bulgarians call Stara Planina/Стара Планина (Old Mountain) or simply the Balkan Mountain, is like a wall, it is very narrow so being on the peak leaves an impression that you are somewhere in the air since the view immediately opens toward the Rose Valley of Kazanlak to the south and to the Danube plain to the north.
You can reach the Buzludzha monument from both south and north, depending on where you are coming from. If I were to choose, I'd choose south since the terrain is not so hilly and mountainous as the north, also with abundance of transportation options and road arteries. You can easily reach Kazanlak by car, bus or train and can spend some time in the area to explore the Thracian heritage and tombs, the Rose Festival in the beginning of June every year, the Shipka Monastery and the Liberation Monument on the Shipka peak. If coming from the north, then you can take a bus or possibly hitch-hike from Gabrovo and after on the Shipka peak, you have the option to proceed 10 more kilometers to Hadzhi Dimitar peak, or get someone to drive you there.
I recommend renting a car in Kazanlak or Gabrovo (or whenever you are coming from). I know some guys take taxi-cabs (from Kazanlak for sure) but you need to arrange for them to wait for you, if you decide to go inside.
There are a few functioning huts at the Buzludzha monument area so you can stay there too. One is on the south slope and also on the way to the monument. Another one is after the ski runs to the north. As far as I know there is a hotel too, which you can reach making a right turn a little after you start climbing to the peak on the south slope and before the hut. For certain, I recommend checking for the local accommodation options online before going there, there is a lot of information even in English.
About the monument, a Bulgarian TV called Nova recently made a short documentary in Bulgarian, which I made English subtitles for. It is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-81Z0SAYRlA. It will give you some further idea of why the monument was constructed and why it really is an amazing place worldwide. Don't judge it in the primary stereotypical way people seeing only in black and white do. After the changes in Bulgaria, started in 1989, I always wondered what really was the difference between the so called communism (which never existed anywhere on the Planet) and the upcoming capitalism/democracy. I still wonder !!!...
A suggestion, if coming over the winter, or generally after October till the end of April, make sure that you either have a car nearby with full tank, your lifesaving heating source, some food and thick clothes, or you are with friends, since the fog is the other thing that is almost permanent at Buzludzha. The weather also changes within seconds from sunny into severe snow storm....
The area is both beautiful and very peaceful, if you do not count the permanent wind. Actually this is one of the places worldwide I've visited that has constant wind, no matter what. Sometimes it is like a breeze and very pleasant but considering the nearly 6-month winter, it could be quite a pain in the cold. The mountain itself, which Bulgarians call Stara Planina/Стара Планина (Old Mountain) or simply the Balkan Mountain, is like a wall, it is very narrow so being on the peak leaves an impression that you are somewhere in the air since the view immediately opens toward the Rose Valley of Kazanlak to the south and to the Danube plain to the north.
You can reach the Buzludzha monument from both south and north, depending on where you are coming from. If I were to choose, I'd choose south since the terrain is not so hilly and mountainous as the north, also with abundance of transportation options and road arteries. You can easily reach Kazanlak by car, bus or train and can spend some time in the area to explore the Thracian heritage and tombs, the Rose Festival in the beginning of June every year, the Shipka Monastery and the Liberation Monument on the Shipka peak. If coming from the north, then you can take a bus or possibly hitch-hike from Gabrovo and after on the Shipka peak, you have the option to proceed 10 more kilometers to Hadzhi Dimitar peak, or get someone to drive you there.
I recommend renting a car in Kazanlak or Gabrovo (or whenever you are coming from). I know some guys take taxi-cabs (from Kazanlak for sure) but you need to arrange for them to wait for you, if you decide to go inside.
There are a few functioning huts at the Buzludzha monument area so you can stay there too. One is on the south slope and also on the way to the monument. Another one is after the ski runs to the north. As far as I know there is a hotel too, which you can reach making a right turn a little after you start climbing to the peak on the south slope and before the hut. For certain, I recommend checking for the local accommodation options online before going there, there is a lot of information even in English.
About the monument, a Bulgarian TV called Nova recently made a short documentary in Bulgarian, which I made English subtitles for. It is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-81Z0SAYRlA. It will give you some further idea of why the monument was constructed and why it really is an amazing place worldwide. Don't judge it in the primary stereotypical way people seeing only in black and white do. After the changes in Bulgaria, started in 1989, I always wondered what really was the difference between the so called communism (which never existed anywhere on the Planet) and the upcoming capitalism/democracy. I still wonder !!!...
A suggestion, if coming over the winter, or generally after October till the end of April, make sure that you either have a car nearby with full tank, your lifesaving heating source, some food and thick clothes, or you are with friends, since the fog is the other thing that is almost permanent at Buzludzha. The weather also changes within seconds from sunny into severe snow storm....
Written 20 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, can you now enter the monument? I have read that the tickets were blocked and is guarded
Written 7 January 2020
Guilb
Ostend, Belgium
Bonjour, vous conseillez de prévoir combien de temps sur place ?
Merci d'avance,
F.
Written 23 April 2019
Bonjour, si vous garez votre voiture sur le parking en bas de la colline, il faut compter déjà 20 bonnes minutes pour l'ascension, mais ça vaut le coup. Ensuite, si on a la chance de pouvoir pénétrer dans le bâtiment (mais il paraît qu'à présent il y a des gardes), on peut y rester facilement une à deux heures pour tout voir. Cordialement. Ch
Written 24 April 2019
Ciao Andrea
Ho letto la tua recensione riguardo Buzludzha in Bulgaria vicino Sofia, ma come ci posso arrivare da Sofia? Solo con Tour? Quale? Hai qualche link o indicazioni??
Grazie
Written 25 April 2018
Hi, can you still get near the monument? and can you still get inside the monument?
Written 17 April 2018
Hello! No, you can't anymore, their even is a police man keeping the place. it's so sad :(
Written 30 June 2018
Buenas noches,
El próximo 28 de Marzo iremos tres personas a Sofia y uno de los muchos lugares turisticos que nos gustaria visitar seria este monumento el KAZANLUK, alguien sabe de algun contacto o empresa que te lleve hasta allí? se puede planificar alguilando un coche? alguien tiene previsto estar por alli y tiene pensado ir? podriamos alguilar un coche e ir 5 personas o una furgoneta y alguna persona más...
Espero vuestros comentarios al respecto.
Muchas gracias
Saludos desde Valladolid
Written 10 February 2018
Hola!
Supongo que iréis en avión. Yo opté por alquilar un coche (íbamos un grupo de cuatro personas), por eso de poder visitar la ciudad y los alrededores con total libertad. El alquiler no sale caro. De hecho, Bulgaria en general no es nada caro: el sueldo mínimo son 400 levas (200 euros) e incluso los menús gourmet valen lo equivalente a un menú del día español.
Con respecto al alquiler de coche, no recuerdo muy bien cuánto me costó, pero la fianza eran 300 levas/150 euros. Alquilamos con una compañía pequeña de allí que tenía un puesto en el aeropuerto. Ojo, porque solamente hay puestos de alquiler de coche en una de las terminales del aeropuerto! Si vais con Ryanair tendríais que pasearos hasta la otra terminal...
Mucha suerte con el viaje. Que lo disfrutéis! Bulgaria merece muchísimo la pena.
Written 11 February 2018
Buenas noches,
El próximo 28 de Marzo iremos tres personas a Sofia y uno de los muchos lugares turisticos que nos gustaria visitar seria este monumento el KAZANLUK, alguien sabe de algun contacto o empresa que te lleve hasta allí? se puede planificar alguilando un coche? alguien tiene previsto estar por alli y tiene pensado ir? podriamos alguilar un coche e ir 5 personas o una furgoneta y alguna persona más...
Espero vuestros comentarios al respecto.
Muchas gracias
Saludos desde Valladolid
Written 10 February 2018
Laurence C
Milan, Italy
Ciao Nicolò, come hai fatto ad entrarvi senza far scattare alcun allarme?
Written 1 September 2017
Marcos S
Alcobendas, Spain
Hi all!
I will be in Sofia on the 14th and 15th of August, and would like so much to visit this attraction everyone says it is amazing.
Unfortunately, the private tours are really expensive (I have read ~150€ cost for the trip regardless of the number of people), and the cars to rent are mostly sold out for this days.
Does anyone plan to go to Buzludzha on the 14 or 15. Maybe we could split the cost of a private tour, or if you have a car rented share the costs and the driving hours :).
Thanks a lot!!
Marcos
Written 12 August 2017
Hi Marcos. We are expats living in Bulgaria and visited Buzludzha every few months with a car. Only few weeks ago illegal access into the monument via the air ducts was sealed with a concrete cap and there is no access anymore. Please take that into account if you are hoping to explore urbex-style.
Take a bus to Veliko Tărnovo for about 20lv (10€) and negotiate with a cab driver for another 100lv (50€) to take you there and wait. You wouldn't need more than an hour to explore building panorama. It could take additional 4-5hrs when access into the building was still possible. Good Luck. Mike
Written 12 August 2017
Hi bro, I saw you said there are some sensors at the small and illegal entrance of Buzludzha, is there any other possibilities to enter?? I am really looking forward to enter in... Thanks for your response!!
Written 25 October 2016
you can enter without any problem. motion controllers doesn't work.
Written 17 January 2017
Is there really cameras and an alarm now?? Did you see them? surely they wouldnt bother connecting something like that. where would the power come from
Written 14 September 2016
Last time that I was there I did not see any cameras or alarms. Still I do think that they have some kind of security over there, even though definitely there shouldn't be any power in the monument itself as it is abandoned for years now.
Written 14 September 2016
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