98229 | 26 Aug. 2025 | 16:03
On August 26, 1934, King Boris III inaugurated the Shipka Freedom Monument.
The monument is 31.5 meters tall and the inscription "To the Fighters for Freedom" is written in metal letters above the main entrance on the north side. Above it stands a huge bronze lion, 8 meters in length, 4 meters in height, and weighing 28 tons.
Over one hundred thousand people gathered for the celebrations of the monument's opening, and 80 living volunteers were also present.
The King gave an inspiring speech, which is unlikely to be well received by a certain part of our political elite nowadays, which persists in trying to erase March 3 as a national holiday and downplay the role of Russian weapons in the liberation of Bulgaria.
Here is what Boris III said at the time:
"Your Eminences, gentlemen, brothers and sisters, Bulgarians!
The liberation of the Bulgarian people is the most glorious moment, the greatest event in our history. It is the culmination of long-awaited and cherished desires, nurtured for centuries in the Bulgarian soul.
57 years ago, Bulgarian fate hung in the balance at this very spot. Over these peaks, Russians and Bulgarians fought for three days in a terrifying battle that would determine the outcome of the liberation war. The ancient bravery of the Russian army was overshadowed here by new laurels, and the Bulgarian militia, the founder of our brave army, performed its legendary feat. And before the astonished eyes of the world, the glory of Bulgarian weapons shone here, resurrected after five centuries. From "Eagle's Nest," the first shining ray of Bulgarian freedom emerged.
Shipka is the heroic symbol of the Bulgarian revival. She brought together in an epic endeavor the courage and spiritual strength of the Bulgarian people. But the road to Shipka was a long one. Along it are the cell of Paisiy, the Bulgarian church in "Fener", the resting place of Levski, Botеv and the cherry ball, symbolically marking the unstoppable rise of the Bulgarian nation. The national awakening and apostles of the revolution, fighters for the Bulgarian church and the fighters for the Bulgarian state worked, each with the means of their time, but with equal determination and the same bright hope for Bulgarian liberation.
The victorious liberation war, led by the Russian army and the unforgettable gallant hero-Tsar Liberator, gloriously crowned the Bulgarian people's gaze towards freedom and national prosperity. This war, carried out by the fraternal Russian people, is an act of great generosity unlike any other in the history of nations. Ladies and gentlemen, at this bright epoch of struggles, for this great cause of Liberation and for their activists and heroes, the people's gratitude has erected this majestic monument.
Every monument, however, is vulnerable to the passing of time. Only the memory, which lives on through generations and inspires them to greatness, is indestructible. Such an invisible monument we must build in our hearts for the great saga of Liberation, for the immortal feat of Shipka, and pass it on to our descendants. In the presence of the soldiers, heroes and brave volunteers who live among us, and in front of the invisible graves of the gloriously fallen, let us say that we will preserve their memory forever.
Let's say to the living: "Be proud: your example will always inspire Bulgarian hearts." And to those fallen in the fight, let's say: "Rest peacefully. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten!" With these intense feelings of reverence, which are inseparably linked to every Bulgarian, and with the respect for our fraternal Russian people and the Russian heroes and veterans of the Liberation War, I bow deeply to the bright accomplishment of our Liberation and, on behalf of the Bulgarian people, unveil this monument and entrust it to future generations as a source of inspiration, eternal glory, and gratitude.
Long live Bulgaria! Hooray!
How did the idea for the Monument of Freedom arise?
During the Constituent Assembly on April 13, 1879, the popular representatives Petko Karavelov, Petar Beron, and Petko R. Slavov signed a letter to Prince Alexander of Battenberg, requesting the construction of a monument to the Russian soldiers who died in the struggle for the Liberation of Bulgaria.
The national poet Petko Slaveykov puts forth the suggestion that the entire Bulgarian nation participates in the construction of the monument, as "this monument will serve in the future as a guiding star for our reunification, it will attract people and bring together the views of Bulgarians from all corners of Bulgaria".
However, years go by and nothing happens.
Only in 1921, at a congress of the Volunteer Fighters' Society "Shipka", a decision is made to lay the foundations of a monument in memory of the fallen Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers in connection with the 45th anniversary of the Shipka epic.The highest point in the area - Mount "St. Nicholas" - is chosen.
On August 24, 1922, during the celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the Shipka epic, the cornerstone of the monument was laid. However, there was no project for the monument yet.
Its development was delayed for 3 years and only on June 3, 1924, a competition for a project for the monument was announced, with a deadline of December 31, 1924. However, the results of the competition were canceled. A second competition was held on November 30, 1925. The project of architect Atanas Donkov and sculptor Alexander Andreev received the highest score. On February 3, 1926, a contract was signed with the authors of the distinguished project to begin construction.
The actual construction began in the spring of 1926 under the leadership of engineer Bogdan Goranov, architect Mincho Zaekov, and engineer Ivan Danchev. Iliya Maglov was appointed as the chief master builder. However, he completed the monument to the level of the ossuary, and due to the harsh conditions, people scattered and abandoned the construction.
Engineer Danchev appoints a new chief mason - Penyo Atanasov Kolev from the village of Dralfa, Targovishte, also known as Penyo Bombeto because he always wore a bomba (traditional headgear).
During the summers of 1927, 1928, and 1929, there was a heightened construction activity. For three years, Penyo Bombeto and his team built the monument. The workers endured inhuman hardships during this difficult trial: Kanchо Kavrakov from the village of Shipka was the master of stone extraction. Stonemasons Gencho Vakov, Iliya Rashkov, Georgi Ivanov, brothers Hristo and Georgi Dimitrov, and ten other people from Gabrovo shaped the stones for the construction with chisels. The rough stones were transported from the quarry to the top with two pairs of oxen using specially made metal carts. One car could transport up to one ton of dolomite blocks. The sand was driven from Mogilzha and Enina to Shipka by wagons, and from there to the peak in boxes loaded onto 40 horse-drawn carts from Karakacha. There wasn't even a cart road to the peak, as the erosion had erased the old road through the pass. The people of Shipka and Mogilzha voluntarily built a new road. Cement, reinforced steel, and wooden material were carried from Kazanlak to the village of Shipka by trucks, and then to the peak with the carts, ox wagons, and horse-drawn carriages. The weather in the mountain was often foggy and rainy. The construction was difficult and slow.
The stone tower of the monument was only completed in rough structure in the summer of 1929. But in September of the same year, the construction suddenly stopped due to political reasons.
According to the initial project, a huge bronze lion was supposed to be placed on top of the intersected pyramid, facing north. The lion was already cast at the Sofia Military Arsenal by a group of artists led by Stefan Vejanski, based on the sculpture project by Kiril Shivarov. However, this 8-meter lion caused many problems for the project authors and the Bulgarian governments during the construction of the memorial. The lion itself was made of 28 bronze shells with a total weight of 28 tons. It had to be transported to the top in pieces and assembled there like a volumetric puzzle. Mules and carters pulled the lion to the top (in the "Pythagorid" blog, details of the monument's construction are described).
And just when the workers were figuring out how to hoist it onto the tower, the Romanian government protested. The Bulgarian national symbol cannot face north! This smells like territorial claims, say the northern neighbors.
The Council of Ministers met and decided the lion to turn to the south - the architectural project allowed for this. But then Greece and Turkey reacted simultaneously. The memories of three wars - the Balkan, Interallied and World War I were still fresh. The neighbors saw in the construction of the monument a desire from Sofia to revise the Neuilly Treaty.
This led to a Solomon decision. The lion was "removed" from the top of the monument and "placed" on the pediment above the main entrance from the north side, while being turned to the west. Now Serbia has reacted. Are the Bulgarians seeking revenge for Macedonia and the Western Outlands? The Serbian Ambassador presented an official note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Council of Ministers met again to discuss the monument. Two ministers were tasked with evaluating potential diplomatic issues that could arise. In the end, a decision was made for the lion to face east, from where the liberators came.
The people reacted to the whole saga in their own way, with jokes. They joked that the lion was facing towards the Black Sea because the fish are mute and cannot protest.
Employees from Stara Zagora participated in the final touches of the monument.
During the grand opening ceremony of the Freedom Monument, a review of military units and graduates from military schools took place, with officers being awarded ranks.
In 1956, the monument was partially rebuilt. The lower two floors are connected by circular openings. In the central niche, in solemn silence, sculptural figures of a Russian soldier and Bulgarian volunteer stand guard in memory of the fallen. On the second floor, a sculptural figure of "Victory" is placed.
The stone staircase leading to the top was built in 1957 on the eve of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Shipka epic. Today, 894 steps lead to the Monument of Liberty.
In 1977, for the 100th anniversary of the epic, the top part of the staircase was reconstructed in a ceremonial approach to the monument. On the first platform under the staircase, the most significant moments of the five-month battle for the pass are recreated. On the white-stone wall, three relief compositions are carved: "The Defenders of Shipka", "A Sip of Water for the Heroes", and "Winter on Shipka". The author of the compositions is the artist prof. Lyuben Dimitrov. At the bottom of the square, on a large memorial wall, verses by the poet Ivan Rudnikov are inscribed.
On March 3, 1982, a copy of the Samara flag was ceremoniously brought here.
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