Bulgaria lived under communist rule for 45 years, from 1944 to 1989. Yet, almost four decades later, Sofia still lacks a permanent museum entirely dedicated to this chapter of its history. A new initiative called FACADE – Museum of Communist Bulgaria aims to change that.
The Sofia Platform Foundation leads FACADE, which intends to offer something more than a traditional history museum. Through personal stories, historical documents and interactive experiences, visitors will discover what everyday life was really like under communism, beyond the official propaganda.
The team plans to house the museum in a house built in the 1920s at 37 Iskar Street, in central Sofia. Moreover, the building itself has a story to tell: the communist authorities confiscated it, and its owners regained it after 1989. The team hopes to open the museum in 2028, provided it can secure sufficient funding.
Louisa Slavkova: Understanding the Past to Protect the Future
Behind this initiative is Louisa Slavkova, a Bulgarian political scientist, author and founder and co-director of the Sofia Platform Foundation. For more than a decade, she has been actively involved in civic education, democratic development and preserving Bulgaria’s recent history.
In her recent article, The Civic Habits Communism Destroyed, she raises an interesting point: communism did not simply restrict individual freedoms and private property. It also weakened people’s habit of taking initiative, organising themselves and acting independently of the state.
And while a political system can disappear almost overnight, changing the habits it leaves behind can take generations.
This is precisely why FACADE matters. It is not simply about remembering Bulgaria’s communist past, but helping younger generations understand its consequences and the value of freedoms that are too easily taken for granted.
At Madame Bulgaria, we believe this is an initiative worth discovering and supporting.
Support FACADE – Museum of Communist Bulgaria
Curious about FACADE and what it takes to bring a museum like this to life? Get in touch – there are many ways to be part of the story:
Louisa Slavkova, founder and co-director
FACADE – Museum of Communist Bulgaria
Powered by Sofia Platform Foundation
Address: 37 Iskar Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
Email: louisa.slavkova@sofiaplatform.org
Donate here.
