Buzludzha was the first notable abandoned building I ever became aware of. I distinctly remember photos of it, perched on top of a hill—a comically large saucer and brutalist spire, at odds with its natural surroundings.
As my travels across the Balkans took me to Bulgaria, I knew I had to visit. With a car booked for the weekend, I drove the three hours from Sofia to Shipka to experience Buzludzha and its communist history firsthand.
Officially called the "Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party," it commemorates the events of 1891 when a group of socialists secretly assembled in this area to form an organized socialist movement, eventually leading to the founding of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party.
Its futuristic architectural style housed approximately 937 square meters of mosaics, or 35 tons of cobalt glass by weight. These mosaics depict Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx, alongside scenes of labor by ordinary workers—a common theme in communist art. How much of the mosaics remain today is unknown.
Since being recognized as one of the seven most endangered European heritage sites in 2018, preservation work has slowly begun. The mosaics inside are reportedly being stabilized to prevent further decay, and the site is now closed and guarded by security and cameras 24/7. Entrance to the monument is no longer possible, so I could only admire it from the outside on this visit. Maybe next time I'll get to see inside.
