The National Military History Museum, founded on July 4, 1916, holds a significant place in Bulgaria’s historical narrative. Over its nearly century-long existence, the museum has amassed a collection of more than 1 million exhibits, offering tangible evidence of Bulgarian and European military history.
The museum, unique in Bulgaria, boasts three distinct expositions for the public: an external exhibit featuring combat equipment, a permanent exhibition, and specialized collections. The external display showcases over 230 pieces of artillery, aviation, and naval equipment, including preserved SKUD, FROG, and SS-23 missile complexes.
The permanent exhibition, unveiled in May 2005, spans 2,400 square meters, recounting the history of the Bulgarian army from its inception to contemporary times. The narrative encompasses the Middle Ages, national liberation struggles, the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), and the significant role played by the Bulgarian Army in the First and Second World Wars. The exhibition incorporates more than 28,000 artifacts from the museum’s extensive collection, captivating visitors with reenactments, sound effects, and a compelling combination of exhibits and paintings by renowned Bulgarian artists.
The museum’s collection rooms cater to specific interests. The first hall focuses on melee and firearms, including a dedicated space for weapons from the royal collections of Prince Alexander I of Battenberg, Tsar Ferdinand I, and Tsar Boris III.
Two halls showcase collections of honors. The first hall exhibits 960 orders, medals, and insignia, tracing the evolution of the Bulgarian award system. The second hall features the honors of Todor Zhivkov, who served as the head of state of Bulgaria from 1954 to 1989. Additionally, a hall dedicated to uniforms displays 600 samples, providing insight into the development of Bulgarian military attire across different periods and troop types.
Prices:
Adults: BGN 8.00.
Pupils, students, pensioners and people with disabilities: BGN 2.00.
Children up to 7 years: Free
Military: Free
Every last Wednesday of the month: Free
Conversation (general) in Bulgarian: BGN 15.00.
Conversation (general) in a foreign language: BGN 40.00.
Work time:
Exposition:
Wednesday – Sunday:
10:00 – 18:00
Ticket sales close at 5:00 p.m.
Administration:
Monday – Friday:
8:30 – 17:00
