National palace of culture – Sofia
Map
The National Palace of Culture is located in the center of Sofia. It is a multi functional complex, a synthesis of modern architecture and plastic arts. It was built in 1981 on the occasion of 1300 years since the founding of Bulgaria.
It has 15 multi functional halls, 55 meeting rooms with a total capacity of more than 8000 seats and over 15 000 square meters of exhibition area. Among them Hall 1 is the largest and most representative hall of the complex. It has an area of 11,000 square meters and is equipped with fixed armchairs. Its total capacity is 3692 seats.
In the past, the grounds under the National Palace of Culture were built with barracks and other auxiliary buildings. After World War II, the site became more and more like a temporary warehouse of materials, and there was also a small station used for loading and unloading coal. This land, in the very center of Sofia, was perfect for the construction of the National Palace of Culture.
Construction began in 1978, initially scheduled to end for 12 years, but was completed in 1981. Due to the short deadlines, military personnel have been mobilized to help with the construction as well as the surrounding areas.
There is a spacious garden around the building, known as the garden in front of the National Palace of Culture, with many benches and places for relaxation. Along its entire length you may see a spectacular fountain which is lit in the summertime, during the night.
During its construction, more steel was consumed than for the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It is part of the 100 national tourist sites of Bulgaria.
Photo: Dian Nikolov