Shipka National Park – The Monument of Freedom

The monument of Freedom, situated on the Shipka summit, was officially opened on August 26, 1934. It was built with the voluntary contributions of the Bulgarian people, under project created by the architect Atanas Donkov and the sculptor Alexander Andreev. Its building started in 1926 and was completed in 1934, when the monument was officially opened by King Boris III. It is a part of the national park Shipka, which is situated exactly in the place, where the legendary battles related to the defence of the Shipka passage from the Turks during the Russian-Turkish war took place. The monument consists of many floors, on which an exposition is shown, revealing the heroism of the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers, who fought for the liberation of our country. When one comes out on the last floor platform, one can see the restored details of the battle-field, the numerous monuments and common graves, which still keep the memory of the heroic deeds of the people.