Rakovski Defence and Staff College

Rakovski Defence and Staff College is the oldest higher military institution in Bulgaria. It was founded with an Act of the 15 th National Assembly of 1 st March, 1912 . The College has a unique contribution to the foundation of the Bulgarian Officers Corps, as well as to the establishment of the new Bulgarian State , and to the influence of the European values upon the Bulgarian nation. Today it is a national institution for higher education, qualification, and scientific research on issues of national security and Defence. It is the main educational institution concerning issues of international and national security, civil-military cooperation, military art, and interoperability with NATO armed forces. Having history and architecture in mind, the sights in the area of G.S.Rakovski Defence and Staff College are valuable cultural monuments. Protocol of the National Institute for Cultural Monuments from March 18th, 1985 declared it normatively and enumerated as cultural monuments most of the buildings, the fence of rifles along Evlogi Georgiev Blvd, the main alley in the park and the lake. These sights incorporate the morale and the tradition of the Bulgarian Army.