Presentation, given by me at the International Conference"The Place of Memory and Memory of Place“ – Warsaw, 22-24 October, 2015

1. "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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 1934-1935 images – Mausoleum Committee,
Mausoleum after the inauguration of 4th August 1935

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Thank you
for your attention!
Be our gests
in that sacral
memorial place
with Pan European
significance!
bonevavera@gmail.com
facebook.com/vera.boneva.9
www.varnenchikmuseum.com