Shipka Monument

The Monument to Freedom on Shipka Peak is an imposing symbol of the Bulgarian people's gratitude to the heroes who defended the Shipka Pass and Bulgaria's freedom during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Built with voluntary donations from people across the country, it was designed by architect Donkov and sculptor Andreev. It was inaugurated on 26 August 1934.

Inspired by medieval Bulgarian fortresses, the monument is 31.5 metres high and is reached by 890 steps. A bronze lion, a symbol of Bulgarian statehood, stands above the main entrance. The names Shipka, Sheynovo and Stara Zagora are inscribed on the other three sides: battlefields recalling the heroic deeds of the Bulgarian volunteers.

On the ground floor, beneath the marble sarcophagus supported by four reclining lions, lie the bones of the heroes who died defending Shipka. Stone figures of a Russian soldier and a Bulgarian volunteer stand before the sarcophagus, keeping eternal watch. This is an enduring and impressive monument to the epic struggle for freedom, reflecting the strength and resistance of that historical moment.