Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square, Sofia

Alexander Battenberg Square has long been one of Sofia’s most prominent public spaces, evolving through several political eras and names. During the Communist period, it was known as September 9th Square, commemorating the 1944 government overthrow. Before that, it carried the name Tsar’s Square, thanks to the royal palace that stood beside it—today home to the National Art Gallery. The square also once housed the Georgi Dimitrov Mausoleum, one of the most recognizable symbols of Communist Bulgaria.

Georgi Dimitrov, the country’s first Communist leader, died in 1949 and was placed in the Mausoleum with full honours. His successor, Vasil Kolarov, who died the following year, received a niche in the east wall. From its earliest days, the Mausoleum faced repeated attempts to destroy it. After Bulgaria’s transition to democracy, the post-Communist UDF government finally demolished it, succeeding only after four separate explosive attempts.

The square’s name honours Alexander of Battenberg, the first Prince of the Principality of Bulgaria. He became prince in 1879, elected by the Bulgarian Grand National Assembly during a period when Bulgaria still held autonomous status within the waning Ottoman Empire. His refusal to conform to Russian interests eventually led to his forced abdication in 1886, but his name endures in one of Sofia’s most significant civic spaces.

Today, the square is Sofia’s premier setting for outdoor events and concerts. While military parades were common during the Communist era, the most notable modern parade held here is the Bulgarian Armed Forces Day Parade, celebrated on May 6th each year.