Top 5 unusual buildings of Bulgaria: abandoned houses and architectural landmarks

Property in Bulgaria is among the most sought-after in Europe. At the same time, as everywhere, there are privately owned sites and architectural landmarks here that, for various reasons, stand abandoned. Modern tourism has even given rise to a separate movement – dark tourism, i.e. travel to abandoned places and buildings. Every year, there are more and more fans of such journeys. Swedes, Danes, Americans and French visit Bulgaria to see the summit of Buzludzha or to wander through the industrial zone of the city of Pernik.

Bulgaria’s abandoned buildings often hide in the shadow of new developments or more successful architectural landmarks. People once lived in them – perhaps balls, parties, party events and religious celebrations were held there. The facades of many still preserve elegant features and traces of the work of famous architects. Buying an abandoned building is not as simple as buying an apartment. They are often listed cultural or architectural monuments, or someone’s property burdened with lawsuits. So while you think about which apartment or house to buy in Burgas or Varna, the Bulgaria Avenue real estate agency invites you on a short tour of the top 5 forgotten architectural masterpieces.

The ghostly skyscraper of Burgas

Those who have been to the Meden Rudnik district of Burgas know the huge building towering over the neighbouring residential blocks. It is visible from the road from Sozopol, and fans of landmarks have already worked out that it is the ninth tallest building in Bulgaria.

The building’s height is only 50 cm less than that of Sofia’s Infinity Tower. 

The 30-storey skyscraper was built 13 years ago, but because of the developer’s bankruptcy it still has not been commissioned and is beginning to fall into disrepair. Without Act 16, living in it is prohibited. Despite the ban, some of the 250 owners who bought apartments in this «monument of modern anti-construction» have already started living there. 

The city hall, together with the utility services and the committee of homeowners, is working on bringing the skyscraper into commission. In 2019 the installation of electricity meters began. But until Act 16 is issued, we give it fifth place in our ranking of abandoned buildings.

The Sephardic Synagogue

Few people know that in Varna there is a Sephardic Synagogue. Built in 1890, today, despite work on restoration projects and being granted the status of an architectural landmark, it is crumbling day by day. 
The synagogue was built in the Moorish style with elements of late Gothic. The interiors are decorated with mosaics and huge chandeliers. The city acquired ownership of it in the 1960s, ostensibly as a gift from the Jewish community. 

The administration turned the synagogue into a boxing hall and held competitions in it. At present the building has been returned to the Jewish community, which cannot begin restoration and use, since the building is located on the territory of the Navy Headquarters.

The house of Nikola Hatev (Hateva kashta)

In Burgas, on the corner of Republikanska Street and Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodiy Street, you can see an abandoned building with broken windows, a leaky roof and a small overgrown courtyard.

Despite the decay and desolation, one can see that this was once a beautiful, stylish mansion.  

The building we have placed in third place in our ranking was built at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century by the famous Italian architect Riccardo Toscani in the neoclassical style for the industrialist Nikola Hatev.

Later the actor Milko Hatev lived in it.

The film «Dangerous Charms» was also shot here. 

The mansion holds the status of an architectural landmark, its value has been assessed at €2 million. 

In 2018 the heirs put the historic house up for sale at a price of €550 thousand. Since then there has been no information about a change of owners.

Perhaps it is still for sale, and you have a unique chance to buy an architectural landmark in the very centre of Burgas.

The Sofia Bank

In second place in our ranking is the building of the former Sofia Bank in Varna.

The building is located in the city centre, on Preslav Street, amid many other structures that need restoration and major refurbishment.

But while the fate of the others is still unknown, a decree has been issued in respect of the old bank, according to which it must be restored in 2020.  

In 2019 the house, built in 1922 by the architect Dabko Dabkov, was sold for almost 1 million euros. The change of ownership probably served as the impetus for the start of the works.

It is planned that the mansion will be converted into an office building or a hotel.

Buzludzha

Two hundred kilometres from Burgas and 330 km from Varna lies the summit of Buzludzha and the eponymous house-monument of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Despite the fairly great distance, we could not exclude it from the list of Bulgaria’s top 5 abandoned places and awarded it an honourable first place. 

The structure, resembling a round tray for offering a sacrifice with a 70-metre column standing beside it, appeared on the summit of Buzludzha (elevation 1441 m) in 1981 in honour of the centenary of the congress at which the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party was founded. Many describe the building as a flying saucer. Indeed, if you look at it from another peak of the Stara Planina mountains – Shipka – especially in the fog, you will see indistinct outlines that could easily be mistaken for an alien ship. 

From 1981 to 1989 the building was actively used by the communists for meetings, events, initiations of Young Pioneers and Komsomol members, and national celebrations. The interior astounded those present with its magnificence. Bronze reliefs, bas-reliefs and mosaic panels told of vivid historical events.

After the fall of communism the building was sealed up. Without security, funding or maintenance, it quickly began to lose its appearance. Despite the ban, over many years visitors climbed inside, smashed windows, broke mosaics and even shot at the walls to gather rubies and precious stones. At present projects for the reconstruction of Buzludzha are being agreed and urgent works are being carried out. If Buzludzha is officially opened for visits, it will be a real gift for tourists and residents of Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria there is a huge number of abandoned structures. These include cottages in villages, entire villages and monuments of national importance. For some, the government and municipal administrations find money for restoration. Some disappear forever with the passing years. But those who are planning to buy property in Varna or Burgas have a unique opportunity to catch time and see the unique Bulgarian architecture.