Pantheon of the National Revival Heroes
WORKING HOURS:
EVERY DAY
09:00 – 12:00
12:30 – 17:30
CONTACTS:
Ruse, “Vazrozhdenski” Square
Phone: +359 82 820 998
pr.museumruse@gmail.com
TO THE VIRTUAL ROOM
The Pantheon of the National Revival Heroes is a national ossuary-monument located in Ruse, on the site of the old cemetery — today known as the “Park of the Revivalists.”
The idea behind it was to gather the remains of prominent Bulgarian revolutionaries, educators, and participants in the struggles for liberation and independence, creating a memorial to preserve the memory of their sacrifice.
The Pantheon was officially opened on February 28, 1978 — marking the 100th anniversary of Bulgaria’s Liberation. The project was created by a team of architects, sculptors and artists.
What you will see inside
The Pantheon holds the mortal remains of dozens of significant figures from the Bulgarian National Revival — among them Lyuben Karavelov, Zahari Stoyanov, Stefan Karadja, Panayot Hitov, Baba Tonka Obretenova (together with her family), and many other worthy Bulgarians.
The interior bears the names of around 453 heroes — revolutionaries, members of armed detachments, volunteers and educators who fell in the struggle for freedom.
Under the golden dome, an eternal flame once burned as a symbol of unbroken remembrance — although it was extinguished after the political changes.
The hall contains memorial plaques, bas-reliefs, weapons and objects connected with the revolutionary and liberation movements, evoking a deep sense of historical weight.
History and transformation
Before the construction of the Pantheon, its location was occupied by the church “All Saints,” part of Ruse’s old cemetery. At the end of the 1960s the cemetery was closed, and the church was proposed for conversion into a monument.
Initially, the project aimed to preserve and adapt the old church, but later a decision was made to build an entirely new structure — the Pantheon. The church “All Saints” was demolished in 1975.
The Pantheon was built between 1977–1978, according to a project by architect Nikola Nikolov and his colleagues, and it was inaugurated exactly on February 28, 1978.
Between 2019–2021 the monument underwent major renovation — the dome, gold plating, interior, and infrastructure were restored to preserve it for future generations.
GALLERY:
