The Archeological Museum in Varna

The beginning of the Archeological Museum in Varna was set by the Skorpil brothers, Herman and Karel. Its first exposition was oficially opened on June 11th, 1906 in one of the class-rooms of the High-School for Young Girls. Karel Skorpil was selected to be the Director of the Museum and remain on this position untill he died in 1944. Since March  1983 the Archeological Museum is housed in its current building, which offers excellent conditions for both exhibiting and conservating the riches of the Museum. The building comprises of a ground floor and two storeys. Its shape is almost square and is surrounded by a spacious courtyard. Some of the premises and the corridors are decorated with mural-paintings. A long, perpetual corridor surrounds the entire building providing access to every exhibition hall. Except for the halls there are store-rooms for exponents, a library and an Educational Museum for Children.

A wide staircase to the south leads to the lobby. Inside are an information desk and a souvenier shop. It establishes the connection to the exhibition halls on the first and the second floor, the courtyard, the restrooms and the cafe as well as with the groundfloor where the library and the Educational Museum for Children are situated.
The total area of the Museum is 2150 sq. m.. There are 32 halls where the following permanent expositions are on display: Prehistory, Antiquity, Middle Ages, Icon Painting of the Revival.

This is were the oldest golden treasure in the world is kept. It dates back to the year 4000 BC!

The treasure was found by accident while some construction work was carried out near Varna in 1972. It is hard to imagine how long the golden jewelry and utensils were buried before the moment has come for the historians and the archeologists worldwide to get acquainted with the treasures of the Chalcolithic necropolis in Varna. Nearly 2000 objects were found made of 23.5 carat gold, weighing about 5.5 kg. The find consists of golden necklaces, bracelets, breastplates and utensils. Discovering the treasure has turned the historians’ ideas for the development of the human civilization upside down. One of the most striking exhibits one could see in the Museum is the golden scepter – a royal symbol of power. Another interesting exhibit is the so called “Grave No. 43” – the skeleton of a 45-50 year old man covered with more than 100 golden adornments. He is the chieftain (the king), a man who has sacral functions and carries the symbols of power.

Address: 41 Maria Louisa BLVD.

Tel: 052/681 011; 052/681 030

Fax: 052/681 025;

Work time:

In the summer: 10.00 am – 5 pm

In the winter:  10.00 am – 5 pm

The museum works with no days off during the summer.

Lectures by certified guides are available in Bulgarian, English, German, French and Russian.

Source: moreto.net
Pictures: Mirela Ltd.