Museums in Varna

The Archaeological Museum of Varna was established in 1887 by the brothers Karel and Herman Shkorpil (archaeologists and scientists of Czech and Bulgarian origin, founders of the Bulgarian archaeology and museum activity).

The building housing the museum was constructed in 1892 – 1898 for a school – a Girls High School. It was built in late baroque style, with basement premises and two floors. It has almost square shape and spacious internal yard. The exhibition area of the museum is 2 150 square meters. There are also funds, a library and a children education museum.

Some of the premises and the corridors are decorated with wall paintings. A continuous corridor goes around the entire building and one can enter the exhibition halls through it. Ascending a wide staircase in the south part, one enters a foyer where the information desk and the pavilion for souvenirs and museum tickets are located. This is the connection to the exhibition halls and the basement area, where the library and the country’s only children education museum are situated.

The archaeological museum shows original finds from the Paleolithic Age /about 100 000 years BC/ to the Middle Ages /7th – 8th/ century, many of which are of great significance to the archaeology of Europe and the world. The largest Mesolithic collection of flint tools in South-East Europe, the largest collections of ancient terracotta, tombstone reliefs, lamps and glass vessels in Bulgaria are placed here.

The most significant exhibits in the museum are from the Varna Eneolith necropolis founded during accidental construction works in the west industrial zone of Varna in 1972. The Varna necropolis soon turned into a sensational scientific find, the significance of which surpasses largely the limits of the ancient history of contemporary Bulgaria.

To date, 294 tombs have been found as a result of the research. The golden objects alone, found in the examined tombs, are more than 3 000, and have a total weight of more than 6 kilograms, and their diversity is significant – more than 38 different types.

There is also a very large quantity of finds of other materials – the copper articles are more than 160; the flint articles - more than 230; almost 90 made of stone and marble. Multiple shells of Mediterranean mollusca have been found, and about 1100 decorations have been made of them - bracelets, beads and applications. The assemblage of ceramics – more than 650 clay pots- is a common type of tomb inventory. Two of them stand out. The decoration on their surface is painted with a gold finish.

Unique exponents of the Hellenistic age, the Roman age and the Late Antiquity are presented; as well as rare premonetary forms, more than 2000 golden, silver, bronze and copper antic and middle age coins. Stone inscriptions from the history of the Bulgarian state are also presented; and also the largest in the country collections of early Bulgarian belt decorations and jewels dating from the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1393).

A representative part of the rich collection of the museum is presented in six halls - 150 icons (14th – 19th century). Here you can see exceptionally rich and old specimens, as well as top achievements of the Tryavna icon-painting school. With its icon collection, the Varna Museum is ranked immediately after the National Museum of History in Sofia.

Tickets for the museum and information materials can be bought in the foyer, where the pavilion for souvenirs, information materials, specialized literature, etc. is situated. The exposition is arranged chronologically, as materials from the various historical ages are consecutively presented, in order to trace the development of the human society during thousands of years in the Varna region.

You can get to The Archaeological museum by public buses 7, 12, 31, 31А, 148 to bus stop “Muzeya”, and public buses 9, 14, 409 to bus stop "Sevastopol".

Admission:
Adults - €10.00 / 19.56 lv.
Students - €4.00 / 7.82 lv.
Children under 7 years old - Free
Student entrance to the Archaeology department - €5.00 / 9.78 lv.
For groups over 15 people: adults €8.00 / 15.65 lv.
Giving a talk - €30.00 / 58.67 lv.
Days determined by Order of the Council of Ministers or the Municipality of Varna - Free