Bulgarian Royal Residences

[popov_2000]

I remember Simeon auctioned several of Ferdinand's orders and medals about a dozen years ago. There were critical remards in the Bulgarian press because those orders and medals were given not to him persoonally but to the King of Bulgaria.
Speaking of regalia, Ferdinand was very vain and had ordered an Emperor's crown before the unsuccessful all-out attack on Istanbul during the First Balkan War.

Do you know what happened to this Emperor's crown?
I also know that his second wife had a crown, do you know what happened to this crown too?

[dvoretzky]

I am not sure... There are claims that he had no crown at all:
http://www.design4you.co.th/magazine/bk_gems/issue903.html
At the same time, during his coronation as a king in 1908 he had a crown made in Munich: http://www.bgnews.bg/show_story.html?issue=137260759&media=1523776&class=6852860&story=137262647
I cannot find any reference to his "Imperial" crown, although I am certain i have read about it.

[popov_2000]

I am not sure... There are claims that he had no crown at all:
http://www.design4you.co.th/magazine/bk_gems/issue903.html
At the same time, during his coronation as a king in 1908 he had a crown made in Munich: http://www.bgnews.bg/show_story.html?issue=137260759&media=1523776&class=6852860&story=137262647
I cannot find any reference to his "Imperial" crown, although I am certain i have read about it.

This is one of two pictures I have seen of Ferdinand I wearing a crown. On this picture he is wearing a Byzantium style crown. I remember that on the other picture he was wearing western European style crown. I do not remember where I saw the second picture.

Tony

[popov_2000]

I just found this. A medal commemorating Tsar Ferdinand I coronation. It looks like he had a crown.

[dvoretzky]

The issue of the Royal Estates was raised again today during parliamentary question time. Interesting, it was right-wing MPs who didn't spare their anger, while the socialists lay low...

[popov_2000]

I just visited www.ndsv.bg and they have a press relese regarding the Royal Properties. It look interesting.

[ipflo]

As my bulgarian is not very good, could you please tell us what was there in the press release?

thx

ipflo

[popov_2000]

A list with all the Royal properties was made in 1946 initiated by Prime Minister Kimon Georgiev. The list included 17 Royal properties. Some of them were returned to the Royal family based on the decision taken by the Constitutional Court in June 1998.

It said that the following properties had been returned to the Royal family:

“Vrana Palace” - out of 3500 acres only 980 acres were returned. Approximately 920 acres of them were donated to the City of Sofia.
“Tsarska Bistritsa”
“Sarugiol”
“Sitniakovo”
“Bania Palace”
Forests around the town of Samokov and Beli Iskar

[palimpsest]

This is an outside view of the residence of former Bulgarian King Simeon II in Sofia Thursday June 21, 2001. The former king says he will decide this week whether to take the job of prime minister, after his National Movement for Simeon II party captured half the seats in Bulgaria's parliament. (AP Photo/Sava Radovanovic)

[popov_2000]

This is an outside view of the residence of former Bulgarian King Simeon II in Sofia Thursday June 21, 2001. The former king says he will decide this week whether to take the job of prime minister, after his National Movement for Simeon II party captured half the seats in Bulgaria's parliament. (AP Photo/Sava Radovanovic)

This is not the Vrana Palace. This is a hunting lodge that was build by Tsar Ferdinand I. He would stay there while hunting. Vrana Palace is close by. Simeon II chose to live in the hunting lodge rather then the palace. I love the picture.

[gleb]

This is not the Vrana Palace. This is a hunting lodge that was build by Tsar Ferdinand I. He would stay there while hunting. Vrana Palace is close by. Simeon II chose to live in the hunting lodge rather then the palace. I love the picture.

So Simeon II doesn't live in the main palace. Does it belong to him, thus? What is it used for? Anyone visited it?

If Tsar Ferdinand had a hunting lodge nearby, who built the main palace and who used to live there?

Gleb

[popov_2000]

So Simeon II doesn't live in the main palace. Does it belong to him, thus? What is it used for? Anyone visited it?

If Tsar Ferdinand had a hunting lodge nearby, who built the main palace and who used to live there?

Gleb

Tsar Ferdinand I build both the hunting lodge and the palace. He first build the hunting lodge and would go there to hunt, while living in the Royal palace in Sofia (Now a National Art Gallery). Later on Ferdinand I build Vrana palace.

In 1999 Simeon II donated Vrana park to the city of Sofia. He also said that he wanted to make the main palace a school for hotel workers - just like the one in Switzerland. However, this was the first and last time he said what he plans to do with the main palace. In 2000 he announced he was coming back to Bulgaria and the hunting lodge was adopted for living. Since then many monarchs came to Bulgaria and all of them were greeted in the main palace. I remember when King Juan Carlos I of Spain came he was grated in front of the main palace and then the reception continued inside. King Albert II of Belgium and Prince Albert II of Monaco were also guests at Vrana palace and they were welcomed at the main palace. So even though Simeon II lives in the hunting lodge he welcomes his guests in the main palace.

[gleb]

Thanks very much Popov2000!!

I just hope Tsar Simeon will decide to make a museum out of the main Palace. It would be so beautiful!

[popov_2000]

Thanks very much Popov2000!!

I just hope Tsar Simeon will decide to make a museum out of the main Palace. It would be so beautiful!

That is what I am hoping too!

[gleb]

As we all know there is a castle called Tsarska Bistritza.

I suppose this name has a meaning is it true? Tsarska looks like a sort of adjective, am I right?

While what does bistritza mean?