Lost in Plovdiv

The Beginning

On 11th June 1891, a special committee of the Ministry of Finance decided that the First Bulgarian Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition would be held in Plovdiv. By early October of the same year, the plan was ready and the committee officially designated the locations of the future exhibition pavilions. This marked the beginning of the history of “Tsar Simeon” Garden.

The Miracle Called the First Bulgarian Exhibition

In just a few months, instead of wilderness, a beautiful park appeared at the southern foot of Sahat Tepe. The small town of the First Bulgarian Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition emerged there, and its appearance was considered a real miracle. It literally changed the fate of the entire city. Unprecedented construction began. Suddenly, Plovdiv became a central city in Bulgaria, and all eyes turned toward it.

August 15, 1892 – The Opening

From the railway station, a triumphal arch welcomed the prince and the government. In the evening, the exhibition town was illuminated by electric light, and the first spark of the lamps was met with a powerful “Hurrah!”.

The Memory

In just one month, the number of visitors exceeded 100 000 and everyone rushed to take something home — with the most valuable being the memory itself. Thanks to that memory, the new Plovdiv Fair was founded in 1933.

The Large Lake and Its Smaller Siblings

During the First Bulgarian Exhibition, three lakes were mentioned in “Tsar Simeon” Garden. The one we remember today was called the Great Lake back then. The second was by the cave in the northwest corner of the park. The third was in the northeast corner of the garden, in front of the pavilion of forestry and fishing. Special channels connected the two smaller lakes to the Great Lake. The same was done with water from the Demeter fountain.

The Lake and the Buffet

In the original plans, there was no lake — only a swamp that was planned to be drained. But Lucien Chevalas quickly realized that if the swamp was cleared of silt and its bottom lined with tiles, it could become a true attraction. Also remarkable was the venue on the southern shore. Known as the “Buffet” by Plovdiv locals, it hosted numerous celebrations.

In 1921, the municipal authorities decided that the lake was spreading disease and ordered the “dangerous place” to be filled with earth. Due to citizen protests, the filling was stopped. At one point, there were plans to turn it into a children’s playground. By 1927, only a large pit remained, overgrown with weeds and thorns. A real children’s area in the garden wasn’t developed until the 1950s, when swings, slides, and wooden and cement animal figures appeared.

The golden era of this Plovdiv attraction began in 1928–1929 when the local branch of the Bulgarian National Maritime Union signed a contract with the municipality to manage the lake and the buffet.

The Lake as a Rowing Base

In 1922, a branch of the Bulgarian National Maritime Union was established in Plovdiv. The organization aimed to turn the public’s attention toward rivers, fishing, water sports, and waterborne commerce. The “sailors” took over management of the lake, cleaned it, and invested significant funds in its improvement. With the addition of some boats, it became one of the city’s major attractions. The scene during celebrations was enchanting — boats with lit candles, fireworks, and flares lit up the water and the park.

The Lake as an Ice Rink

The “Tsar Simeon” Garden opened to visitors on January 1st 1893. From that day on, every winter the lake turned into an ice rink. Winter sports lovers used it as they paid a minimal fee.

The lake is also tied to Plovdiv’s first ice hockey match. On the 7th February 1954, a mixed team from Plovdiv played against Sofia’s “Lokomotiv”, one of the top six teams in the national championship.

There is no information in the press about the Plovdiv lineup, and the players’ team affiliations remain a mystery.

The Magical Cave

The cave was one of the most visited sites during the First Bulgarian Exhibition. It was located beneath a small hill in the northwest part of the park, near today’s House of Technology. From the top of the hill, all exhibition pavilions could be seen. The entrance of the cave was hidden by the streams of several waterfalls. Below was a small lake, with a fountain in its center. Clusters of lush flowers surrounded this fairy-tale spot. When a “tableau” was planned to present people from different parts of the country, the cave area was chosen. Musicians accompanying the regional delegations played there. It was said to be the favorite spot of gardener Lucien Chevalas, the creator of this wonder.

The Monuments in the Garden

After the monument that was built on the Hill of the Liberators in 1880 (Alyosha), there were still no plans for new monuments in Plovdiv. It wasn’t until 1892 that the Demeter fountain appeared in “Tsar Simeon” Garden, created by young Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi. Nearly 20 years had to pass before a new commemorative monument appeared — a bust of the Tsar Liberator, Russian Emperor Alexander II, in early 1909. Once again, the “Tsar Simeon” Garden was chosen to accommodate the monument.

The emergence of multiple monuments along the park’s paths in the 1930s showed that this place was symbolic for Plovdiv’s citizens. Around the same time, near “Veliko Tarnovo” Street, a column with a lion on top was erected, symbolizing Bulgarian military glory. However, the monument was met with widespread disapproval and was dismantled in 1938.

In 1916–1917, the bust of the Tsar Liberator was also dismantled. Over time, the cement turtles by the lake, the bronze deer, and many other monuments also gradually disappeared from the garden.