Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Shipka Peak is synonymous with Bulgaria and its freedom

Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria is celebrating 145 years of the Shipka Peak epopee - the heroic six-day epic battle in which the native defenders proved that freedom is not a gift, but was won with the blood and sacrifice of thousands of Bulgarians.

The Balkan peak of Saint Nicholas where the Freedom Monument was built, in the middle of August in 1877 the heaviest battles took place during the Russo-Turkish war of liberation for Bulgaria. Then the defense of the Shipka Pass literally hung in the balance, and it was to determine to a large extent the outcome of the entire war. 

The Defense of Orlovo Gnezdo at Shipka ( by Lexei Popov)

Today, in this holy place, which every Bulgarian visits at least once in his life, there is a park-museum "Shipka-Buzludzha". It covers 26 monuments, including military weapons and dugouts of the defenders of the pass during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78. The Freedom Monument is the largest among all the sights. 

Built with the voluntary donations of the entire Bulgarian people, the monument was opened on August 26, 1934. It is 31.5 m high, and 890 steps lead to it.

"There are about 90,000 visitors a year, and at the time this place also had many famous guests," Chavdar Angelov, director of the national Shipka museum, told BNR-Burgas.


"Everything starts from here! The foundations of the Bulgarian army were laid on Shipka," says the director of the museum. "Here is the place to think that the Bulgarian people experienced many terrible moments in their historical

development and overcame them. This is how Bulgaria survived, thanks to the faith in God, the hard work of the people, the support of the family and the courage of the army," says historian Chavdar Angelov.

The celebrations will continue until August 23.

Photos: BGNES- library, library


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Palm Sunday and the beauty of spring

Palm Sunday, Tsvetnitsa in Bulgarian (the word comes from tsvete , flower) is a Christian holiday loved and looked forward to by many, commemorating the Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a moveable feast, always falling on..

published on 4/9/23 5:55 AM

Cheesefare Sunday reminds us of the meaning of forgiveness and Christ’s infinite love

Sunday after Mesni Zagovezni or Meat Shrovetide is the last day on which everyone who decides to follow the Great Lent according to the Orthodox calendar can eat dairy products, fish and eggs. Therefore, on Cheesefare Sunday before..

published on 2/26/23 8:00 AM
Maestro Diko Iliev meets with a military orchestra

Iskarsko Horo- Diko Iliev’s first horo

Diko Iliev- composer, conductor, a sui generis talent, a unique phenomenon in Bulgarian culture - authored dozens of marches, waltzes, horo chain dances, ruchenitsi and  brass band music . For decades, Diko Iliev’s Dunavsko Horo has been..

published on 2/17/23 6:05 AM