Monument "Mother Bulgaria"

The monument "Mother Bulgaria" is located in the center of Veliko Tarnovo and opened on May 6, 1935. It is dedicated to the Russo- Turkish War /1877-1878/, the Serbian-Bulgarian War /1885/ Balkan war /1912-1913/ and World War /1915-1918/ made with funds donated by the population of Veliko Tarnovo. It is was created by sculpture Svetoslav Yotzov and is built of marble and bronze on three levels. At its base is situated an ossuary with four entrances leading to the stairs. Above the entrance are inscribed the years of wars of liberation and unification of Bulgaria. Between them stand four bronze relief depicting important moments of the war. On the second level are placed four bronze figures of soldiers and officers with typical for their time military uniforms and weapons. At the top of the monument stands a bronze figure of a kneeling woman, symbolizing "Mother Bulgaria" with a crown on her head and a flag in her right hand. During the events after September 9, 1944 the crown of the head of the Mother Bulgaria was removed and disappears. But after 1989, it appears that it was preserved and was again laid on its place. The monument is surrounded by a solid, embossed made marble fence, which is crossed by its four sides by the marble staircase. (Photo: /bg.wikipedia.org)