Buzludzha is a mountain in Bulgaria that has seen a number of historic events. In 1441 the Turks were defeated there and driven from Bulgaria. In 1891 Bulgarian socialists met there clandestinely and organized. In 1981 the ruling Communist Party erected a huge monumental building, memorializing these events and meant to be a meeting space for Bulgarian Communists for centuries to come. Last year, the monument was gifted to the Bulgarian Socialist Party who may restore it if they can find the funds.
Buzludzha grand opening 1981
The monument has fallen into disrepair. The tonnes of copper that once sheathed its dome have been stripped and the roof is open to the weather.
View of the gallery, 1981 (via kuriositas.com)
Similar view, circa 2000. (via Wikimedia)
This past winter photographer Timothy Allen visited the site. First he had to fight his way through a snowstorm. There are a lot of great photos at Timothy’s website, where all these come from:
