“The House of the Double-Headed Eagle” has been approved for funding under the Culture Program
The Bulgarian History Museum (NIM) project “The House of the Double-Headed Eagle” is receiving support for the second consecutive year under the Sofia Municipality Culture Program. It will be implemented in 2026 in the northernmost part of the Kokalyanski Urvich fortress. The medieval fortress is a cultural monument of national importance, located on the southern outskirts of Sofia. The main objective of the project is to preserve, study, and promote the cultural heritage of the Kokalyanski Urvich Fortress through in-depth archaeological research, conservation, and exhibition of a triangular tower built in Antiquity. After a series of renovations, it continued to function during the Second Bulgarian Empire.
The project combines a scientific research approach with cultural and educational activities and aims to transform the site into an accessible and attractive place for cultural tourism and historical knowledge. The scientific director is Violina Kiryakova, curator at the Bulgarian History Museum and specialist in ancient archaeology, who has been leading the archaeological research in Kokalyanski Urvich since 2018. The deputy director is Dr. Philip Petrunov from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NAIM-BAS) – a specialist in Bulgarian medieval archaeology with many years of experience in the study of medieval fortresses and monastery complexes.
The project involves leading specialists in the fields of numismatics, anthropology, architecture, geodesy, conservation, and restoration, who are part of the expert capacity of the National Institute of Archaeology, the National Archaeological Museum, the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, and the National Institute of Geophysics and Geodesy. Project activities include archaeological research on the newly discovered triangular tower, radiocarbon dating, conservation and exhibition of the architectural remains, improvement of the park and information environment, cleaning and securing the citadel, as well as the creation of information signs and digital content for visitors.
Significant emphasis is placed on the educational component – lectures and practical initiatives with pupils and students from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. The project aims to build sustainable relationships between science, young people, and the local community. The project is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program.
“The House of the Double-Headed Eagle” is fully in line with the priorities of the Sofia Municipality’s Cultural Program for decentralizing cultural life, expanding access to culture, and actively involving young people in the preservation of cultural heritage. With its implementation, the Bulgarian History Museum contributes to the establishment of Kokalyanski Urvich as a significant cultural, educational, and tourist site in Sofia.
