If you’re looking for a place to take a stroll that combines Bulgaria’s historical heritage with beautiful natural surroundings, the Military Academy Park is the perfect choice. As soon as you enter, you will notice the fence, built from 1,895 rifle barrels used by the Bulgarian army on the battlefields during the wars of national unification. 

The park was designed by the architect Friedrich Grunanger, who was responsible for architecturally remarkable public buildings and private homes in Sofia, such as the Theological Academy and the Synagogue. In the park, you can see the lake shaped like the letter ‘F’ in honour of Prince Ferdinand I, whilst the building is shaped like the letter ‘E’ for his wife, Princess Eleonora of Bulgaria. 

The building has three storeys and is built in the Neo-Romanesque style; the façade resembles an ancient fortress, with its arched windows and details in the form of military motifs. On the east wall, above the entrance, there is a clock, beneath which the borders of Bulgaria are depicted on a marble slab. 

The park is also home to two iconic monuments – one to Vasil Levski, the ‘Apostle of Freedom’ and a Bulgarian national hero, and the other to Boris Draganov, a military educator and commander.

The park is open to visitors free of charge and, as well as immersing yourself in the cultural and historical heart of Sofia, you can enjoy a peaceful stroll along the paths. There are over 150,000 saplings to be seen there – lime trees, ash trees, horse chestnuts, poplars, plane trees, acacias, sycamores and others. During the summer season, various outdoor events and concerts are also organised.