Buzludzha, an abandoned communist UFO in Bulgaria

Who would think of building a giant circular pavilion with capacity for thousands of people at the top of a mountain range, over 1,400 meters high? The dreams of grandeur of the Soviets have left thousands of rare monuments scattered throughout the territories that one day formed the hermetic Eastern Bloc. Today we approach one of the most remarkable of them all: Buzludzha.



Something so unique has not stopped firing the imagination of the few visitors who come here. When the snow covers the peaks of the Balkan mountains, this mass of concrete looks like a rebel base in the planet Hoth from the Empire Strikes Back. Also it could be the fortress of the bad guy of any 007 film.



The fact is that this relatively contemporary building (opened in 1981), seems to have its days numbered. The country could restore and use it as a tourist attraction. However, for now only illegal scrap dealers are interested in recovering the metallic framework, leaving the structure at the mercy of the elements:



The decision to build this memorial was made in 1971. The rulers of the country wanted to celebrate the foundation of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, that took place after a secret meeting in these mountains in the late 19th century. Now repairing the red coliseum costs millions that nobody in Bulgaria is able or willing to afford. Image KamrenB Photography The decision to build this memorial was made in 1971. The rulers of the country wantedof the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, that took place after a secret meeting in these mountains in the late 19th century. Nowthat nobody in Bulgaria is able or willing to afford.



The complex has a tower 70 meters high and this corridor with large windows overlooking the magnificent landscape. As you can see, now it's also overlooking the sky. Image KamrenB Photography The complex has a tower 70 meters high and this corridor with large windows overlooking the magnificent landscape. As you can see, now it's also overlooking the sky.



Top artists worked on the extensive mosaics covering the walls.

Image KamrenB Photography Top artists worked on the extensive mosaics covering the walls.



(Don't) forget your past. Do not be an ignorant: Who forgets the past is condemned to repeat it.

Image KamrenB Photography (Don't). Do not be an ignorant: Who forgets the past is condemned to repeat it.



Cyrillic alphabet soup. After all, Buzludzha is like the religious shrines, which are also raised in the most unlikely places. Image KamrenB Photography Cyrillic alphabet soup. After all, Buzludzha is like the religious shrines, which are also raised in the most unlikely places.



From the air you can see the gaping holes in the roof of the temple of a despised ideology.

Image by Chris Kuklok From the air you can see the gaping holes in the roof of the temple of a despised ideology.



If the main dome collapses, this could be the end of an architectural ensemble that could have been added to the UNESCO heritage list. Image KamrenB Photography If the main dome collapses, this could be the end of an architectural ensemble that could have been added to the UNESCO heritage list.



Better days. This is one of the few images available from when Buzludzha was the pride of the Communist Party.

. This is one of the few images available from when Buzludzha was the pride of the Communist Party.



Inside, socialist realism mixed with a futuristic look Space Odyssey style, or in this case rather like Tarkovsky's Solaris. Image БКП Inside, socialist realism mixed with a futuristic lookstyle, or in this case rather like Tarkovsky's



At its launch pad. Image Michael Kötter At its launch pad.

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