Monument to the Unknown Soldier, War memorial in central Sofia, Bulgaria
The Monument to the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial in central Sofia, featuring a large stone structure with an eternal flame and a lion sculpture by artist Andrey Nikolov. Positioned next to the Church of St Sophia on Paris Street, it serves as a central gathering point for national ceremonies and commemorative events.
The memorial was inaugurated on September 22, 1981, commemorating the 1300th anniversary of Bulgaria's establishment as a state. This timing transformed it into a tribute to all soldiers who had fallen throughout Bulgarian history.
The memorial holds soil from battlefields like Stara Zagora and Shipka Pass, physically connecting the site to pivotal moments in Bulgarian military struggles. This embedded earth transforms the location into a symbolic gathering place where visitors encounter the land itself as a form of remembrance.
The site is located centrally next to the Church of St Sophia and is easily reached on foot from Sofia's main areas. Access is always open, and visiting during daylight hours allows you to fully appreciate the monument and its setting.
A stone inscription displays verses from Ivan Vazov's poem 'The New Graveyard Above Slivnitsa 1885', honoring soldiers who gave their lives for Bulgaria. This literary connection adds an artistic and reflective dimension to the physical monument itself.
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