SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library, Sofia

SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library, Sofia

The SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library is a library that was established in 1878. The current building was designed by the architectural team of Vasilyov-Dimitur Tsolov in 1940 and was completed in 1953. It is known as one of the most notable landmarks in Sofia.

The first library was founded by Mikhail Bobotinov in 1878. Bobotinov was a teacher and a secretary of the City Council in Sofia. It didn't receive its own building until 1900. A new building was under construction in 1939 when bombs destroyed both the old building and the new construction.

The library was originally named Vasil Kolarov. It was renamed after Saints Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Glagolitic alphabet, in 1963. The library is the largest public library in Bulgaria. It is also the oldest cultural institution in the country.

The SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library includes donated personal libraries, a large variety of scriptures and archives of Ottoman, Arabic and Persian documents. There are also a number of old, rare and valuable prints held in the library. The library is open from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM Monday through Saturday.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Sofia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library on Map

Sight Name: SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library
Sight Location: Sofia, Bulgaria (See walking tours in Sofia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Sofia, Bulgaria

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Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

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