Explorea library and museum of Bulgarian and European culture at the Cyril andMethodius National Library of Bulgaria. Find everything from centuries-oldbooks and manuscripts to atlases, maps and an antique music collection. TheCyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria holds a collection of over 7million artifacts. It dates back to 1878 and moved to its current location in1953.
Thelibrary’s collections are spread throughout organised halls, with many itemsexhibited in museum-like displays. Find a collection of over 1,700 Slavonic andforeign language manuscripts that date from the 11th to the 19th centuries. Seearound 80,000 portraits and photos that portray the changes in Bulgarianhistory and the development of photographic art in Europe. Music enthusiastswill enjoy the collection of ancient scores, gramophone records andaudiocassettes.
Checkout the Oriental collection, which preserves archival documents in Arabic,Ottoman Turkish and Persian. You can also browse the atlases and maps thatillustrate the history of the Balkan Peninsula. The library’s temporaryexhibitions further showcase Bulgarian and Balkan culture. Previous eventsinclude expositions about the history of Queen Mary of Romania and celebrationsof national heroes.
Besure to admire the library’s grand architecture and columned façade. Look forthe statue of Saints Cyril and Methodius, after whom the library is named. Siton one of the park benches and relax in the library’s garden.
Situatedon the western edge of Sofia’s city centre, the library is reachable via publicbuses, trolleybus and the metro. SU Sv. Kliment Ohridski metro station is a5-minute walk away. The library is also a short walk from major cityattractions such as Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Bulgarian Parliament.
Thelibrary is open from Monday to Saturday, except for the last Tuesday of themonth. It remains closed in August. Visitors should register for a reading cardto access the halls and materials. Find the complete opening hours and detailsabout exhibitions on the library’s official website.
