site.btaExhibition on Black Sea’s Millennial History to Open at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

A temporary exhibition showcasing the millennia-long history of the Black Sea will be on display at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from July 6 to 16, the Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday. The exhibition is organized in connection with Bulgaria’s hosting of the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2025.

The display will feature archaeological finds and posters dedicated to Bulgaria’s underwater and maritime cultural heritage. Highlights include prehistoric settlements from the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages now submerged underwater, the Greek colonization and life in Antiquity along the western Black Sea coast, and the centuries-old trade and global connections enabled by the sea.

The exhibition showcases submerged fortifications and breakwaters from ancient Mesembria, the temple of Cybele, Pontic Mother of the Gods, discovered in Balchik, and remarkably preserved ancient and medieval shipwrecks found in the oxygen-free depths of the Black Sea. It also presents aspects of Bulgaria’s traditional maritime culture.

According to the Ministry, the exhibition is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the successful hosting of the 2025 session at UNESCO’s headquarters. Bulgaria remains committed to the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage and will continue to be an active and respected member of the international community.

The Ministry also notes that providing a state guarantee for the artifacts, as is common practice in Europe, significantly reduces exhibition costs and encourages cooperation and mobility among museum collections.