Before the lions took up their comfortable perch above the bed of the Vladayska River, this was the site of the Colourful Bridge. It is thought that it was so named either because of its colourful decoration featuring red and yellow (or white, green and red) stripes, or because of the mix of building materials used in its construction. After the Liberation, the time came for a new symbol – and so, in 1891, the Lion Bridge was born.

It was designed by the Czech architect Václav Prošek – a cousin of the famous brothers Jiří (Georgi) and Theodor (Bogdan) Prošek. The architect was also involved in the construction of the old Central Railway Station, which opened in 1888.

Immediately after the new bridge was completed, an urban legend emerged claiming that the lions were depicted without tongues so that they could not reveal the corruption surrounding its construction. In fact, this was simply a creative choice made by the sculptor from Rudolf Philipp Wagner’s Viennese firm.

In 1901, Sofia’s first tram crossed Lion Bridge. And the square around the bridge welcomed distinguished visitors to the capital with ceremonial arches, banners and processions. Today, Lion Bridge is a crossroads of thousands of footsteps, buses, cars and stories. Some gaze towards Vitosha, others search for the lions’ tongues.