Bulgaria’s history keeps a lot of evidence about this country’s heroic past. The multiple military victories won by our ancestors before and during the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom made Bulgaria a key geostrategic player in Europe. The inspiring example we have drawn from these pages of the Bulgarian history deserves to be passed down to the future generations in an attractive and memorable way. This is the purpose of the organizers of the Historic Greatness exhibition hosted by the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

Until October 12 visitors can enjoy over 50 paintings as well as replica of exponents of the Borovsko and Panaguyrishte gold treasures which date back to the 4^th century BC and statuettes of Bulgarian rulers from the Thracian period and the Early Middle Ages. The guests can also try meals made under traditional ancient recipes. Historical novels revealing details about different periods of the Bulgarian Medieval History are also on display during the exhibition.

So far three similar exhibitions have been launched, the organizer of the event Angel Todorov says, and 30% of the visitors kept returning to these exhibitions day after day while they were on display. Their children were happy to travel back in time participating in a series of attractions, including a school for Bulgarian warriors where they learn how to use a sword and axe and shoot a bow. All weapons are made of wood and are safe for children. After the end of the training, each child takes the traditional Thracian oath of greatness.

Until June 27, 2020, the exhibition will visit all 27 district cities of this country. After the end of the national tour the exposition will be displayed abroad and will visit many cities across the globe with big Bulgarian communities.

Meanwhile, we begin the preparation of the exhibition for next year, because we are planning to make such types of exhibitions in the next 20 years, Angel Todorov told Radio Bulgaria. This year we present the history of the nations on our lands and next year we are to present a special exhibition about the Thracians. Later, we will make an exhibition about the nomad period of the Bulgarians. On the fourth year we will focus on the history of the Bulgarian school, because people know of Cyril and Methodius and the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet, but no one knows how a classroom of the 8^th or the 12^th century looked like and how ink was made for instance. On the fifth year we are planning to present the history of Bulgarian architecture. All exhibitions will contain new paintings, sculptures and items.

Each painting and artefact displayed at the exhibition is made after consultation with historians and archaeologists, so they are as close to reality as possible. Thanks to their help, the clothes of the participants were made, as well as the reenactment of the rituals presented in the events demonstrated during the exposition period.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov