Varna History Museum, Varna

The Varna Museum of Modern History-also referred to as the Varna History Museum-is part of the broader Varna Regional Museum of History. Its exhibits focus on the city’s rich development between the end of Ottoman rule (1878) and the outbreak of World War II. It resides in a 19th-century architectural landmark, adding historical ambiance to its storytelling.

Inside, the museum unfolds across three floors, each dedicated to a different facet of Varna’s transformation. On the ground level, you'll encounter displays tracing the city's economic and industrial growth-highlighting its port, navigation, shipbuilding, and traditional crafts such as metalworking, weaving, and printing. Memorably, actual artifacts like a 1902 loom and a 19th-century printing press bring everyday life from that era into vivid relief.

Ascending to the upper floors, the second level delves into Varna’s emergence as an international resort and a cultural hub. Exhibits include vintage beach attire, historical maps and photographs, and personal belongings that showcase the city's burgeoning social life. You’ll even find a cup and saucer used to open the Varna Summer International Music Festival in 1926. On the third floor, immersive recreations transport you into shops, homes, and public spaces of early 20th-century Varna-complete with a hat store, a café, a toy shop, a hotel room, and even the recreated office of the city’s mayor.