Bulgarian town seeks to acquire famous Communist-era mystic ruin

The Municipality Kazanlak will put the decision to a local referendum with the argument that Buzludzha would boost its tourism appeal

The Bulgarian Municipality of Kazanlak will ask its residents whether they would like it to acquire ownership over the Communist-era Buzludzha monument located high up on a mountain peak for the purpose of boosting its global tourism appeal.

The UFO-shaped monument, which has been left to deteriorate since the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, has acquired viral fame from people fascinated by abandoned places. Thus, without any official promotion, Buzludzha still manages to attract some 50,000 visitors per year despite the safety risks associated with the crumbling architecture.

Although the decrepit monument had been an object of interest from heritage associations, including Europa Nostra, it’s the first time that a public authority has expressed interest in restoring the monument for economic purposes.

Buzludzha and its complex history

Built in 1981 on orders of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the saucer-like monument marks two occasions: the 1,300^th anniversary of the creation of the first Bulgarian state and the 90^th anniversary of the establishment of the first Bulgarian socialist party.

The project took seven years to complete given that it involved leveling the mountain peak of its location using TNT explosives. The monument is impressive due to the panoramic views it commands. The interior of the building featured 937 square metres of mosaics glorifying Communist figures and ideals. Some of the mosaics have already been lost due to the deterioration.

With the passage of time, many have begun appreciating its cultural value as a product of bygone times. However, in Bulgaria, the monument is still controversial due to its strong political and ideological connections and the mountain meadows near it are still a traditional annual gathering spot for Bulgarian Socialists.

In fact, for some time, the Bulgarian Socialist Party was the owner of the monument although it couldn’t generate funds or ideas on what to do with it. Currently, Buzludzha is back in the hands of the Bulgarian state, but the mayor of Kazanlak thinks that she could make better use of it by injecting some funds (3.5 million euros) from the Recovery Plan that have already been received.

If the local referendum comes to be it will take place on 17 November. If successful, Buzludzha will represent an additional asset for the Kazanlak Municipality, which has long promoted itself as the gateway to the Valley of Roses and the Valley of Thracian Kings.