Monuments

Tsar Kaloyan ruled Bulgaria from 1196 to 1207 and is considered one of its greatest rulers. He is mainly known for:

• Achieving international recognition of the Bulgarian state
• Winning the Battle of Adrianople against European knights of the Fourth Crusade
• Being proclaimed “Emperor” by Pope Innocent III in 1204
• Expanding Bulgaria’s borders, including the conquest of Varna in 1201

The monument to Tsar Kaloyan stands in the heart of Varna. Designed by architect Milen Marinov and sculptors Boris Borisov and Konstantinov, more than 100 people worked on the project. Cast in brass in Sofia, the 8-meter-high statue depicts the king as a victorious warrior. At the base, key events from his reign are illustrated.

GPS: 43°12'17.4"N 27°54'42.3"E