The National Palace of Culture (NDK), known also as Congress Centre Sofia, is the hugest multi-functional complex of its kind in South-eastern Europe.
Erected in the 1970s, its official opening was in 1981, marking 1.300 years since the establishment of the First Bulgarian State. The gargantuan building was concocted to host a broad array of events, including conferences and symposia, international conventions, exhibitions, official meetings, various concerts, discussion panels, as well as colourful festivals.
Architect Alexander Barov and his team of gifted architects designed the Palace’s main building, while architect Atanas Agura and his squad were responsible for the design of NDK’s surroundings. The landscape architect Valentina Atanassova was the person standing behind the park area’s design.
The Convention Centre was initiated following the suggestion of Lyudmila Zhivkova, the daughter of the communist leader of Bulgaria at the time – Todor Zhivkov.
The ’90s, after the political model’s amendments, saw the Palace lose a substantial part of its property, including car parks, commercial areas, and infrastructure.
Despite it’s still a state property, since 2011, NDK receives no subsidies and is self-sustaining. A significant portion of NDK’s revenues are annually invested in new-fangled projects or in its own cultural occasions and events.
NDK finds its location in the very heart of Sofia where it is encircled by a gorgeous park area.
