"The Place of Memory and Memory of Place“ – International Conference

Warsaw, 22-24 October, 2015

Vera Boneva

Vladislav Varnenchik Park Museum in Varna

as a Place of Memory

Framework

Vladislav Varnenchik Park Museum in Varna

is a cultural institution created in 1924 as Historical park

on the territory, which became ground of famous battle,

held at 10th November 1444 between Crusaders

from European and Balkan countries and Ottoman invaders.

Through the decades a number of monuments were erected in the complex.

In 1964 a museum building was constructed and since then

a permanent exhibition is available for the visitor.

A symbolic mausoleum of the king Vladislav III Yagelo

is a significant part of the complex.

Institutionally, the Park Museum is a branch of National Museum of Military

history; practically, it is a component of the Varna’s museum network.

Varna museums

Within the modern city

of Varna 16 museums

and museum places

are functioning nowadays –

Archeological Museum,

Naval Museum,

Bulgarian Revival Museum,

Varna City Gallery,

Puppet Museum,

Natural History Museum, etc.

National Museum of Military History

A scientific and cultural institute,

responsible for the largest part

of the Bulgarian Military Heritage.

The main structure of the Museum

is located in Sofia; two branches

are housed in Varna –

Naval Museum and

Vladislav Varnenchik Museum;

and one branch is situated

at the Plovdiv Airport Krumovo

Museum of Aviation.

Vladislav Varnenchik Park Museum

The official title of institution

is Park Museum

of Military Friendship 1444.

The memorial place is

a typical museum in situ,

an open air museum,

a museum of knighthood;

knighthood as name

of military stateliness;

knighthood as symbol

of powerful dignity gestures.

Mausoleum: the Memory of a Symbolic Tomb

On the site of the historical

Battle of Varna different kind

of signs of memory

always have been placed –

wooden crosses

(during the Medieval Ages),

a stone cross (during the Crimean War),

a marble monument (in 1924).

In 1935 a mausoleum whit

a symbolic tomb

of the king Vladyslaw III Yagello

was built. This sacralize structure

is a real center

of the complex nowadays.

1934-1935 images – Mausoleum Committee,

Mausoleum after the inauguration of 4th August 1935

Museum: the memory of artifacts

In 1964 a new museum building was erected in the complex. Since then to the present time it has beenhoused the permanent exhibition,dedicated to the Anti Ottoman Crusades (1443-1444) and to the battle of Varna.

A fragment of the small

plastic, gifted by the Polish

delegation

to the Bulgarian hosts –

depicting the Battle of Vienna –

16th September 1683 –

an historical revenge

to the battle of Varna

Historical park: the memory of a battlefield

The historical park was created

in 1924 on the initiative of Czech

intellectual Karel Shkorpil – one of

the greatest leaders of

Varna cultural life during that period.

The park spreads over 30 decares

and gives fresh air and

opportunity to touch the natural

wealth to the residents

of one of the most populated

Varna’s neighborhoods –

Vladislav Varnenchik District

Controversy of monuments

Fragments of Sultan`s Murad II fountain,

erected in 1834 (on the left side)

The first Bulgarian monument

of the king Vladislav III Yagello,erected in 1924

(on the right side)

Audiences: to touch the greatness and the horror of a bloody battle

Re

Audiences: to touch the greatness and the horror of a bloody battle

Vladislav Varnenchik Park Museum

keeps the knowledge and legends about

the famous 1444 battle, which burred about 30000 warriors’ lives

in the swamps of the Varna lake.

In the sake of what?

Europe – prosperous, multilingual, multicultural,

ready for challenges, but homogeneous in its everlasting claim

to be one of the most beneficent places for its inhabitants…

and for some new settlers who reach our Old Continent

with honorable intentions.

Thank you for your attention!

Be our gests in that sacral memorial place with Pan Europeansignificance!

bonevavera@gmail.comfacebook.com/vera.boneva.9

www.varnenchikmuseum.com