Outdoor museum of socialism in Bulgaria attracts tourists with its unique architecture
An entire city in Bulgaria attracts with its unique architecture from socialism. Local people call it “socialist Baroque” because of the Stalin buildings, built in the middle of the last century. Recently, the city was included in the project “Development of regional tourist product: Haskovo - Dimitrovgrad - Stambolovo” developed by the local municipality and neighboring Haskovo and Stambolovo under the Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007-2013, financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Dimitrovgrad is established in the romantic years of socialism with the enthusiasm of the young people in Bulgaria. Its urbanity plan is impressive, thanks to the advanced thinking of his first architects. Impressive are the beautiful parks, green areas and colorful gardens. In the period of 60-80 years of XX century from the facades of private and public buildings unique panels gradually reveal, the work of famous Bulgarian artists. The architectural heritage of the city gives it an important place in European cultural history. Together with partners from 11 countries Dimitrovgrad participates in a project to create a thematic European cultural route applying for the status “Route of the Council of Europe.” This gives a chance for the city to fit into the cultural landscape of Europe as a major tourist destination. Living memory of the city is kept in the Historical Museum, established in 1951 as the “Museum of socialist construction.” It traces the history of the brigade movement and the development of Dimitrovgrad, exposed are numerous archaeological finds. The story of Dimitrovgrad will not be complete if it does not show one of the emblems of the city - the poet Penyo Penev. The House-Museum “Penyo Penev” keeps the memory of the poet and his poetry to this day. Park “Penyo Penev” was created to participate in the global exhibition of art park in 1961. The park surprises with numerous ornamental plants, with scattered monolithic blocks and carved in them verses, artificial caves and lakes.
Dimitrovgrad is located about 220 km away from the capital of Bulgaria Sofia. It is accessed by highway as well as the two neighboring municipalities where tourist routes also abound.