The first museum building in which the National Gallery is located is the Palace. Today, temporary exhibitions of Bulgarian and foreign art are shown in its halls.
The palace was built immediately after the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule (1878) and the election of Sofia as the capital (1879).
The first Bulgarian prince Alexander I Battenberg (1879-1886) commissioned the Viennese architect Viktor Rumpelmeier (1830-1885) to rebuild the former Turkish inn. On December 26, 1882, the palace was officially opened. The stone foundations and part of the main facade have been preserved from the previous building. The new look includes a variety of architectural elements in the spirit of the time-honored mix of neo-styles.
A new wing is being added on the northwest side. On the second floor there are the throne room, ballrooms, reception rooms, dining room and winter garden. On the lower floor are the offices of the palace services. According to contemporaries, the building acquired the charm of French palaces from the time of the Enlightenment. One of the branches of the National Gallery is located in the central building and in this wing.
The second stage of construction was during the time of Prince Ferdinand I of Saxe-Coburg Gotha (1887-1918). According to a project by the Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger (1856-1929), in 1894-1896, the three-story northeast building intended for the apartments of the princely family was built, with a library, study rooms, play and entertainment rooms, a dining room and a reception room, a covered entrance for carriages and two conservatories, guest apartments, staff quarters, elevator.
This wing houses the National Ethnographic Museum.
After September 9, 1944, this most representative building in the capital became the seat of the Council of Ministers. In 1953, the state provided the former palace to the National Art Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum.
Work time:
From Tuesday to Sunday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Checkout: until 5:30 p.m.
Entrance fees:
Ticket – BGN 6.
For schoolchildren, students and pensioners – BGN 3.
On Thursday – BGN 2.
Holidays
– Monday,
– public holidays in Bulgaria,
– Christmas, New Year and Easter.
Free entry:
-children up to 12 years old,
– visitors with physical disabilities,
– pupils and students of art schools,
– employees of museums and galleries,
– journalists,
– members of SBH, ICOM, ICOMOS, AIAP, AICA.
Contacts:
National Gallery “Knyaz Alexander I” Square No. 11000 Sofia
+3592 980 00 93
https://nationalgallery.bg/bg/
