Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Unique weapons from the period of Bulgaria’s Liberation are displayed in Pleven

Photo: archive

Until March 18, the house-museum "Tsar Liberator Alexander II" in Pleven will have on display an exhibition dedicated to the 143rd anniversary of Bulgaria’s Liberation from Ottoman Rule. It presents 14 exhibits from the fund of the Regional Museum of Military History, focusing on the original weapons owned by the Bulgarian rebels and revolutionaries of the period.

Flintlock rifles and pistols were the main armament during the April Uprising of 1876. During the National Revival period, despite the limitations of the Ottoman rule, certain centres of the arms-making craft were gradually formed in the Bulgarian lands. One such important centre was Sliven as the weapons made by Sliven masters were valued throughout the Ottoman Empire. There were also weapons workshops in Sofia, Shumen, Nikopol, Silistra, Kazanlak, Samokov and others, where some of the pistols for the Turkish army were made by Bulgarian master gunsmiths.

The place where the exposition is arranged is also of historical value. In this preserved house in Pleven on December 11, 1877, the Russian Emperor Alexander II personally returned the sword to the captured and wounded Osman Pasha, in recognition of his qualities as a general.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

All Souls Day is an expression of our love for the souls of the departed

In today’s world, where material values overshadow the spiritual, reflections on the salvation of souls somehow remain in the background. The constant race against time and the stream of daily tasks muffle the voice of the soul, which struggles to..

published on 11/1/25 5:10 AM

Tsars Peter and Asen restored the Bulgarian state 840 years ago

In 1018, after half a century of struggle, the First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantium. Despite the many uprisings of the Bulgarians, the power of Constantinople lasted for nearly two centuries. In the autumn of 1185 or the..

published on 10/26/25 5:05 AM

St John of Rila – the Miracle-Worker of the Rila Wilderness

On 19 October, Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski, also known as St John of Rila, who is considered the country’s heavenly protector. He founded the Rila Monastery, which is the largest and most influential spiritual centre in Bulgaria. Ivan..

published on 10/19/25 7:30 AM