Bulgaria’s UFO: The Buzludzha Monument

Like most Eastern European countries, Bulgaria was part of the Communist Bloc for more than 3 decades until the late 80's. Today, 28 years later, the remnants of communism can be still seen everywhere. If I should name one communist thing that stands out, it would be the architecture with its massive concrete blocks, brutalist public buildings, and peculiar monuments. The most bizarre of all, however, is the Buzludzha Monument, which looks like a giant alien saucer that has landed on the top of the mountain.

It was built 35 years ago with the sole purpose of commemorating the establishment of the Bulgarian socialist movement, which later on led to the creation of the communist party. A mere 8 years after the construction was finished, the regime was taken down and the monument was abandoned. Since then, time has taken its toll on it.

The picture above shows the main entrance, which is decorated with graffiti. “Never forget your past” was painted on top of “Forget your past” in the midst of debates about whether such communist monuments should be destroyed or not. I think they are an important part of history and should stay to remind us of the people, ideologies, and events that defined the 20th century. Plus, they look super cool and are great to photograph.

When I think about it, it's actually surreal to see such monstrous brutalist construction in the middle of beautiful scenery. I will, therefore, encourage everyone that comes to Bulgaria to visit Buzludzha – it's an experience that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for reading!

Daniel