Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” stands as the oldest and largest higher education institution in Bulgaria, holding the distinction of being the country’s first university. Situated at 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., near the National Assembly, the university’s construction was made possible by a generous donation of 6 million gold leva from the philanthropic brothers Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi, whose sculptures adorn the building’s facade. The university officially opened its doors on October 1, 1888, boasting four regular and three part-time teachers, along with an initial enrollment of 49 students. The inaugural rector was the esteemed Bulgarian linguist Alexander Teodorov-Balan.
