Retro Museum – Varna, Bulgaria - Atlas Obscura
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Retro Museum

Varna, Bulgaria

The Grand Mall in Varna hosts one of the biggest collections of Soviet-era paraphernalia in Bulgaria. 

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Some old unopened drink bottles ahvenas (Atlas Obscura User)
Washing machines. ahvenas (Atlas Obscura User)
Sporting equipment. ahvenas (Atlas Obscura User)
Strange erotic ("soviet style") ashtray. ahvenas (Atlas Obscura User)
Clocks and watches. ahvenas (Atlas Obscura User)
More vintage cars ahvenas (Atlas Obscura User)
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Inside this museum, visitors are afforded the opportunity to observe many items and common objects that hail from 1945-1989. Many were commonplace in Bulgarian households. The museum comprises about 4,000 square meters and gives visitors a realistic account of life in communist-era Bulgaria. 

In addition to Bulgarian items, there are also cosmetics from Poland, cars from the former Soviet Union, technical appliances from East-Germany, and cigarettes from the former nation of Yugoslavia. A major part of the collection is devoted to cars, some are true rarities such as limousines that belonged to Politburo members of the Bulgarian Communist Party.

The entire collection belongs to businessman Tsvetan Atanasov, who opened the museum to the public in 2015.

Know Before You Go

The museum can be visited during the Grand Mall opening hours. Expect to spend around two hours inside. 

communism cars history & culture museums
Nearby
Monument of the Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship
2.50 miles
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10.93 miles
Rock Monastery of Shashkunite
22.47 miles
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