site.btaConservation and Restoration Works on Shipka Monument Set to Begin in Early September

The conservation and restoration works on the Shipka Monument, a significant national symbol, honoring the heroism and sacrifice of the Bulgarian volunteers who defended the Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish Liberation War of 1877–1878, are scheduled to begin in early September. They will take 1,095 calendar days, or three construction seasons, said here on Wednesday Chavdar Angelov, Director of the Shipka–Buzludzha National Park-Museum.

The Bulgarian Government has approved EUR 3.15 million in funding for the project. The main issue to be addressed is moisture penetrating the monument, with the works including the replacement of lead coverings, removal of later insulation and plaster layers to expose the authentic stonework, and installation of new systems, noted Angelov. The staircase to the northern entrance and the doors of the ossuary and northern entrance will also be restored, while the monument will receive a backup generator. 

The monument’s current permanent exhibition will be removed and stored during the restoration. Once the building is completed, it will be replaced by a new exhibition titled "The Shipka Epic", focusing on the battles at the Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and the history of the Shipka Monument and the Shipka-Buzludzha National Park-Museum. Angelov added that the iconic lion sculpture will remain in place and will be protected during the works, recalling that it was fully conserved and restored in 2019, although it may be inspected and treated again if necessary. 

On 22 August, the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Shipka Pass will be marked and the commemoration events will be held at the Shikpa Monument as usual. Once the construction process begins, access to the monument will be prohibited, which means that future events of this type are to be held at alternative locations. Angelov also explained that in the next two years the 150th anniversary of the declaration of the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation and the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano and the Liberation of Bulgaria will be marked and commemorated. Construction is expected to take place mainly between April 1 and October 30, due to the weather conditions, and it could be finished earlier than expected, added Angelov. 

The Shipka Monument is one of Bulgaria’s most important national monuments and a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. It commemorates the Bulgarian volunteers and Russian soldiers who defended the Shipka Pass against the Ottoman forces in a series of crucial battles in the summer of 1877. Built on Shipka Peak and inaugurated in 1934, the monument also symbolizes the emergence of modern Bulgarian statehood after nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule. Its imposing architecture and the lion at its entrance, a traditional symbol of Bulgarian national identity and strength, have made it an enduring landmark of remembrance.