site.btaOctober 5, 1956: Shipka National Park Is Inaugurated

On October 5, 1956, the Shipka National Park was inaugurated as part of the Shipka-Buzludzha National Park-Museum.

It includes historical sites associated with the defence of the Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (1877-1878). The memorial, trenches, dugouts and shelters have been organized as an open-air museum exhibition.

The first monuments were Russian and were built at the initiative of the Russian Army command in 1878-1881, with funds provided by the treasuries of the units that fought at Mount Shipka.

There are three Bulgarian monuments - two dedicated to the fallen members of the Bulgarian volunteer units, the 3rd and 5th volunteer units (1910), and the Freedom Monument on Mount St Nicholas (now Mount Shipka).

It was unveiled on August 26, 1934, and was built to a design by Atanas Donkov and sculptor Alexander Andreev. It resembles a medieval Bulgarian fortress, is 31.5 m high and is accessed by 894 steps.

In 1968, by a decision of the Council of Ministers, Shipka National Park became part of the Shipka-Buzludzha National Park-Museum, whose territory includes part of the Shipka Pass, the Nativity of Christ Memorial Church, located near the town of Shipka, the Victory Monument Park near the village of Sheinovo, and Buzludzha National Park.