After Communism fell, they took a lot of the statues erected during that time and placed them outside of a museum in Sofia, Bulgaria (Kristen Thoennes)
Bulgaria has been under a variety of rulers throughout its history. Before its transition to a democratic republic in 1989, it was part of the Communist Soviet bloc. Walking through Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, you can see the remnants of this period in the number of Communist-era buildings.
One of my favorite parts of the trip to Sofia, was our visit to The Red Flat. This is a small museum showing a regular Bulgarian family’s apartment. With your ticket (which you purchase in a really cool gift shop, GIFTED, that is filled with items from local artists), you have time to spend in the apartment and a very thorough audio guide telling you about all aspects of the items in the home, life in Communist Bulgaria and more. It was so fascinating!
The Red Flat visitor information
Hours: Monday through Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: 9 Euros (18 BGN)
Audio guide is available in English (Spanish, Italian, French and Bulgarian are also available)
How long will your visit last? Typically 1.5 hours
The grounds of the museum were filled with both well-known people, like Lenin. (Kristen Thoennes)
Another part of the trip that was really fascinating was the Museum of Socialist Art. After Communism fell, they took a lot of the statues erected during that time and placed them outside this museum. It is a great way to connect with history. The grounds were filled with both well-known people, like Lenin, and statues of everyday workers. I was surprised to see many statues of women.
The inside of the museum has some additional Communist era artwork. Since the ticket is so affordable, why not check it out?
Museum of Socialist Art visitor information
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m (last tickets at 5:30 p.m.)
Admission: about 5 dollars (8 BGN), free for children up to 12
Guided tour available for 50 BGN
Take a step back in time and learn more about life in the Communist era while exploring Sofia, Bulgaria.
Take a step back in time and learn more about life in the Communist era while exploring Sofia, Bulgaria. (EdVal (Adobe Stock))
Source
Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of War.
