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First monument to Hans Christian Andersen in Bulgaria unveiled in the resort of Sveti Vlas

Photo: BTA

The first monument to the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen in Bulgaria has been unveiled in the Black sea resort of Sveti Vlas situated north of Burgas. The commemorative bas-relief, made by sculptor Petko Yordanov, is part of the Alley of Nations at the breakwater of the Marina Dinevi yacht port. Along with the writer's face, the quote is inscribed: "There are no more beautiful fairy tales than those that life creates." 


The ceremony for unveiling the bas-relief was honored by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, Flemming Stender.

“It is a great honor for me to be here today, in Sveti Vlas, for the unveiling of the bas-relief of Hans Christian Andersen. All over the world, children grow up listening to his fairy tales, which give us important lessons about life, human nature and morality,” said Ambassador Stender. He added that Andersen's works "are not just stories, but bridges between cultures and peoples" and that the bas-relief is a symbol not only of the writer's genius, but also of the friendship between Denmark and Bulgaria.

The ambassador recalled that Andersen visited Bulgaria's town of Vidin in 1841 during a trip along the Danube and that he was fascinated by the Bulgarian nature, which he believed resembled that of his native Denmark.

The Alley of Nations in Sveti Vlas includes bas-reliefs of a number of historical figures, including Vasil Levski, Hristo Botev, Sandor Petőfi and Giuseppe Garibaldi.


Edited by Ivo Ivanov
English version: R. Petkova



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