Bulgarian Learned Society

The Bulgarian Learned Society was established on September 28, 1869 in the Romanian town of Braila,in the house of Varvara hadji Veleva. This society is the base of what was later to become Bulgaria’s most reputable scientific institution – the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Initially, the society was headquartered in Braila. Its founders were some of Bulgaria’s most prominent patriots, such as Luben Karavelo, Hristo Botev and Vasil Levski. Its establishment came to show the strive of Bulgarian people to overcome the economic and cultural backwardness which was a result of the long-century Turkish domination, as well as to gain back their freedom. Its main goal, according to its articles of association, was “to disseminate enlightenment among all Bulgarians and to show them the way to their spiritual growth”. In 1911, after Bulgaria’s liberation from the Ottoman yoke, the headquarters of the society were moved to Sofia, where it continued to develop its varied roles and activities under the name Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.