MARITIME MUSEUM

The history of Bulgarian maritime dates back to the year of 1883. Once the creation of the Bulgarian Marine by Russian naval officers was accomplished in 1879, there was made a collection of ancient marine exhibits. The first display was inaugurated on 20 May 1923. Since 1955 the museum has been taken care of by the Ministry of Defence. It turned out to be the only naval institute of historical and cultural importance.
The museum itself was built during the last century. It is an architectural cultural monument with elements from the late baroque and neoclassicism.
At present the Maritime museum houses two main displays.
The first one - devoted to the history of Bulgarian Marine - is located in the central building. It occupies 12 halls with total area of 416 m2. The visitors can have a look at unique anchors and shipwrecks, decorations for ship's bows, naval uniforms for officers and mariners, the first Bulgarian naval mines. Original ship models give idea of what the first Bulgarian military ships looked like. One can also obtain information about the relations of the Bulgarian military fleet with Europe and Russia. There is an interesting collection of military torpedoes as well.
There is a special hall for participants from the Bulgarian Marine in the Balkan war and the outstanding victory of the Bulgarian navy on 21 November, 1912, when the drifter "Druzki" successfully torpedoed the Turkish cruiser "Hamidie" in the Black sea.
Visitors can acquaint themselves with the history of the Bulgarian navy duirng 1912-1918 and 1941-1944.
There is useful information about life and achievements of the great Bulgarian poet Nikola Vaptsarov.

The guests will be interested to know more about the feats of the mariners from WW I and WW II, and especially during 1944-1945, when there were fierce battles along the Black Sea coast and the river Danube. In another hall one can trace the marine history during the last decades.
In the museum park there are various kinds of mine equipment, active periscope from a submarine, an anchors collection, found during underwater researches, guns belonging to the coast guard, a lighthouse from Varna port, the yacht "Cor Caroli", etc. The ship "Druzki", now a museum display, is preserved in its original form.

The second display "Water Transport" is located in another building on an area of 360 м2 and tells a long story about the past of the water transport and the civil naval activities. The richest collection of numerous ship models, that had sailed under Bulgarian flag, as well as various types of ships, made in the Bulgarian ship yards during the last 100 years are exhibited there.
The museum disposes of a library, photo laboratory and a book-shop.
Welcome to the monuments of marine fame in Bulgaria!