Description of the attraction
The Naval Museum of Varna is a national tourist site of the country. It is located near the sea coast, in the city Sea Garden. The area of the museum is about 400 sq. M. The building of the museum was erected at the end of the 19th century and today this building is a true architectural monument.
The purpose of the museum is to preserve, as well as present and popularize the history of Bulgaria's maritime exploits. Numerous exhibitions in halls and all kinds of exhibits located right in the open air serve this purpose.
The formation of the museum began in 1883. Then the officers of the Danube flotilla began to collect exhibits in the city of Ruse. The first museum exhibition of military equipment in Varna was opened in May 1923. This was actively promoted by the "Bulgarian National Maritime Society". The turning point in the history of the museum was 1955, when the museum was included in the unified system of the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria - it became a branch of the Sofia National Military History Museum.
The collection of the museum demonstrates the country's maritime history: key processes and moments in the field of shipbuilding, shipping and the creation of a powerful fleet. It also reflects events such as the participation of Bulgarian sailors in the war with the Serbs in 1885, the Balkan wars, as well as both world wars. The museum staff pay special attention to the "Daring" destroyer, which in 1912 attacked and sank the Turkish cruiser "Khamidze".
Visitors have the opportunity to look at ancient anchors and surviving fragments of ships found at the bottom of the Black Sea. The bow decorations of ships, the uniforms of sailors and officers are also exhibited here. For clarity, the museum has expositions with tabletop models, demonstrating all the diversity of the composition of the navy, as well as the peaceful merchant ships of Bulgaria.
Of particular interest are flags, torpedoes, insignia and other evidence of the country's naval greatness. A complete understanding of the specifics of navigation and shipbuilding in general helps to compose various instruments and devices.
The open part of the museum is perhaps the most interesting. Here is the legendary destroyer "Daring", as well as the yacht "Cor Karoli" - it was on her in 1975-1976 that Captain Georgiev made the first Bulgarian voyage around the world. You can also see the helicopters that served the Bulgarian aviation.
In addition to a variety of exhibits, the museum has a functioning specialized library.
