History and Things to do | Boyana
Boyana used to be a separate village called Sevastokrator Kaloyan, which was not a part of Sofia, where the aristocrats of the Second Bulgarian State lived.
The Boyana Pass from Kopitoto reaches the southern slope of Vitosha Mountain. There are numerous hotels, chalets, slopes and restaurants there.
There are many things to do and see in Boyana.
These include:
- The National History Museum
- Boyana Residence
- Boyana Fort
- Boyana Church “St. St. Nicholas and Panteleimon”
- Boyana Waterfall is a natural landmark
The National Historical Museum is Bulgaria’s largest museum and was founded on 5 May 1973.
In 2000, the museum was moved to the former primary residence of the dictator and last communist leader Todor Zhivkov, and currently contains over 650,000 objects connected to archaeology, fine arts, history and ethnography, although only 10% of them are permanently exhibited.
Address: 1618 Sofia, Vitoshko lale 16 str.
Transport to NMH: Buses № 63, № 111; Trolley № 2
During the socialist period, the Boyana Residence was a luxury state complex. The two main buildings included the former residence of the State Council of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (today the National Museum of History) and a housing complex, which never changed its function as a hotel for the Bulgarian government.
The complex is located at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain National Park
The buildings appear perfectly blended with the environment. Specially designed window openings make the Vitosha mountain a dominant element in the interiors and let nature “flow inside”.
The Boyana Residence was one of the first buildings in Bulgaria to use the gradually overhanging of upper floors as main expression of the representation of power.
The Boyana Residence will go down in history, as the place where Bulgaria’s long-term dictator Todor Zhivkov was ousted from the leadership of the party. This historical event of 10 November 1989 marked the beginning of the transition period in Bulgaria towards market economy and democracy.
Boyana Church “St. Nicholas and Panteleimon”, one of the cultural symbols of Bulgaria, is a medieval Bulgarian church (courtyard chapel, later a monastery) in the Boyana district of Sofia, located at the foot of Vitosha mountain. In 1979 as a cultural monument in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The location of the medieval fortress of Boyana is about 1 km southwest above the Boyana Church on the summit of Momina Skala. It has an altitude of 1087 m.
The fortress is above the left bank of the Boyana River. Its remains are to the left of the path from Boyana quarter to Kopitoto Peak, and are reached in about 40 minutes by a mountain pass from the Boyana Church.
The Boyana Waterfall is a favorite destination for many Sofia residents on weekends. It is located on the Boyana River, about 5 km from the center of Boyana.
The Boyana Waterfall is considered the most beautiful and largest waterfall in Vitosha Mountain. The only sound that may interrupt the unique silence and true serenity of the breathtaking scenery is the one of the splashing waters, falling gracefully from 15 m.
On a clear sunny day, the Boyana Waterfall can be spotted from the capital’s centre.