Bulgaria Inside

The national revival pantheon in Rousse is a monument-ossuary honoring the struggle for Bulgarian liberation and paying tribute to all who gave their lives in the battles.

Construction began in 1977 over the remains of a Christian church that was destroyed in 1975. The construction area totals 4456 sq. m. The pantheon preserves the remains of 39 well-known Bulgarian revival period activists. You will find there the graves of Liuben Karavelov, Zahari Stoianov, Panaiot Hitov, Stefan Karadzha, Panaiot Volov, Angel Kunchev, Tonka Obretenova and many others.

Memorial plaques feature the names of 453 other activists, fighters and revolutionaries. Eternal fire glows under the golden dome of the ossuary.

The pantheon was officially opened in 1978 to commemorate 100 years since Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule.

In 2001, a small chapel was constructed alongside the pantheon. A cross was positioned on top of the golden dome.

The monument is one of the 100 national tourist sites. It is located at Rousse’s Tsar Osvoboditel boulevard and welcomes visitors from 9 am to midday and from 1 pm to 5.30 pm. The pantheon is closed for visits on Sunday and Monday.