site.btaJuly 17, 1932: Bulgaria’s First Public Aquarium Opens in Varna

In a landmark event for Bulgaria’s maritime sciences, the Varna Aquarium was officially inaugurated on July 17, 1932 as a Marine Biological Station with Aquarium in the city’s Sea Garden. The new institution was the first of its kind not only in Bulgaria but on the Balkan Peninsula.

The project was initiated by the first Bulgarian monarch Tsar Ferdinand I as early as 1906, reflecting his personal interest in the natural sciences and the study of the Black Sea’s biodiversity. Construction of the building took place between 1906 and 1911, based on a design by the renowned Varna architect Dabko Dabkov, whose work has significantly shaped the city’s early 20th-century architectural landscape.

The Aquarium building is an architectural landmark, constructed in the neoclassical style. Its central façade is decorated by prominent artists of the period, and inside is a large exhibition hall with multiple tanks displaying live marine and freshwater species. The steel frames and thick glass panels of the tanks were imported from abroad.

The use of the building as an aquarium and scientific station was delayed due to the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and World War I. During this period, the premises were repurposed for military needs and temporary shelter for refugees. 

Following renovation works, the facility was officially opened by Tsar Boris III, who personally attended the inauguration ceremony. The newly established Marine Biological Station with Aquarium was intended to serve both scientific research and public education, marking a major step forward in the development of marine sciences in Bulgaria.

The Aquarium, now Institute of Fish Resources, IFR - Varna, is open to visitors daily.