site.btaUPDATED August 23, 1981: Bulgarian Communist Party Memorial House Unveiled at Buzludzha Peak

Forty-three years ago today, a memorial house of the Bulgarian Communist Party was unveiled on Buzludzha Peak in the Balkan mountain range. The building was designed by architect Georgi Stoilov and artist Svetlin Rusev.

The memorial stands on a location of significance in Bulgarian history, Buzludzha Project, a major effort to restore the monument, writes on its website. Three key historic events are linked to this location: in 1868, the rebels organized by Hadzhi Dimitar fought their last battle against the Ottomans; in 1891, the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers Party (succeeded by the Bulgarian Communist Party, later renamed to Bulgarian Socialist Party) held its founding assembly; and in 1944, a major WWII-era fight was fought here by communist guerilla.

In 1959, the government decided to launch a contest to design a memorial atop Buzludzha in recognition of the location's significance. This monument was intended to be larger and more impressive than any other.

Preparation of the construction site began in January 1974. In the process, the point of Buzludzha Peak was lowered by 9 metres, from 1,441 m to 1,432 m, and 15,000 cu m of rock was dug out and used for the foundation of the monument. A total of 70,000 t of concrete, 3,000 t of reinforced steel and 40 t of gilded glass were used in the process.

"With its peculiar architectural form and volume, the Memorial House resembles a giant altar, the 70-m pylon is like a waving communist flag, on which two ruby-red stars, made in the Soviet Union, 12 m high and weighing 3.5 t, give off the signature Buzludzha glow," reads the description of the monument on the day of its opening on August 23, 1981. The monument was inaugurated by General Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Todor Zhivkov.

After the communist regime in Bulgaria fell in 1989, the new democratic government had no interest in maintain the Monument, as it was seen as the most significant symbol of the previous government's ideology, so the construction was abandoned and left to crumble. In early 1992, the Monument was nationalized under the Totalitarian Organizations' Property Confiscation Act and has been a state property administrated by the Regional administration of Haskovo and then of Stara Zagora since then.

Architect Dora Ivanova, founder of the Buzludzha Project Foundation, organized the annual Open Buzludzha Festival for the fourth time this year. The purpose of the music festival, which sees performances by both Bulgarian and international acts, is to support the preservation of the Buzludzha Monument and to grow public support behind the cause.