Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Democracy was restored in 1883, and Alexander dismissed the Russian generals who had been controlling the
country. In 1885, without the approval of the Russian tsar, the province of Eastern Rumelia was reunited with the
rest of Bulgaria. Alexander had made many enemies in his pro-Russian military, and in 1886, a group of army of-
ficers forced him to abdicate and handed him over to the Russian authorities. There was a swift counter-revolu-
tion, and the prince was soon recalled to Sofia. However, without Russian support, Alexander's position was un-
tenable, and he formally abdicated in September 1886. A new prince, Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, was elec-
ted in his place.
Alexander left Bulgaria for the last time and headed for Austria, where he took the title Count von Hartenau
and married an actress called Johanna Loisinger. He died in 1893, aged just 36. Alexander retained a deep affec-
tion for the country he had briefly ruled and, according to his wishes, his remains were brought back to Sofia and
interred in an elegant
mausoleum
Offline map
Google map
(bul Vasil Levski;
Kliment Ohridski)
on bul
Vasil Levski, which has been carefully restored and is open to the public.
AROUND PLOSHTAD ALEKSANDER NEVSKI
Sveta Sofia Church
(ul Parizh; 7am-7pm summer, 7am-6pm winter; 9)
Sveta Sofia Church is the capit-
al's oldest, and gave the city its name. Inside the much-restored red-brick church, you can
see evidence of its earlier incarnations through glass panels in the floor. Outside are the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and an eternal flame, and the grave of Ivan Vazov, Bul-
garia's most revered writer.
CHURCH
Sofia University Botanic Garden
(ul Moskovska; admission 2 lv; 10am-5pm; 1, 2)
Sofia's small Botanic Garden in-
cludes a glasshouse filled with palms and cacti, a rose garden and various trees and
flowers (labelled in Bulgarian and Latin). The entrance is through what looks like a flower
shop on bul Vasil Levski.
GARDENS
National Gallery for Foreign Art
(
www.foreignartmuseum.bg
;
ul 19 Fevruari 1; adult/student 6/3 lv, last Mon of month
free; 11am-6.30pm Wed-Mon; 1, 2)
An eclectic assemblage of international art-
works is exhibited in this huge, squeaky-floored gallery, ranging from Indian wood-
carvings and African tribal masks to countless 19th- and 20th-century paintings, mostly
GALLERY
