About the Place
The Palace was built in 1882 right after the Liberation from the 500-year Ottoman Rule, when Sofia became the new capital of Bulgaria. It was built onto the preserved foundations of the old konak (the Ottoman governance of Sofia). The building was immediately refurbished and changed in line with the European architectural trends.
It was designed at two stages by famous architects that were emblematic for the city – architect Viktor Rumpelmayer, Adolf Vaclav Kolar, architect Friedrich Grunanger and Nikola Lazarov. The first floor hosted the offices and work premises of the King, and the North-Eastern wing contained the personal apartments of the Royal family. The palace has a throne and ball halls, offices and reception rooms, dining-room, library, personal apartments of the Royal family, rooms for the staff and even elevator.
The style is abundant, ornamented and in a style that was modern at the time, with beautiful railings and winter gardens, with numerous wrought iron elements, meandering staircases and wooden-carved doors.
The palace was residence and office of three Bulgarian monarchs – right after the Liberation, of knyaz Alexander of Battenberg and after him of the Cobourg dynasty – tsar Ferdinand and tsar Boris III. After the overthrow of the monarchy in Bulgaria and during the communist period, most of the interior was destroyed, unfortunately. The beautiful fences and the royal coats of arms were eliminated (actually, just one survived until today). The anterior part and the park were eliminated, and a street, square and mausoleum (which is no longer existent) were constructed instead.
Today, the building is a complex of national museums – mainly of National Art Gallery, and when it comes to the part where king’s private rooms were located, it is an Ethnographic Museum.