Silicone Figure Museum

Museum of Silicone Figures "Tsarevgrad Tarnov" - a journey into the Middle Ages

At the foot of the Tsarevets fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, right opposite the Trapezitsa fortress, there is a unique museum - the Multimedia Visitor Center "Tsarevgrad Tarnov", also known as the Museum of Silicone Figures or the Museum of Wax Figures. This is the only museum of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula, similar to the world-famous Madame Tussauds Museum.

History and creation

The construction of the Multimedia Visitor Center is part of the project "Improvement of Tourist Attractions and Related Infrastructure in the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo" under the OP "Regional Development" 2007-2013, worth 6,750,000 leva.

The first stage of the implementation was carried out in 2013 with 28 silicone figures, representing moments from medieval Bulgarian history, related to the reign of Tsar Kaloyan and Tsar Ivan Asen II. In April 2023, the museum was expanded with 37 more plastic figures and new dioramas, reaching a total of 65 exhibits, located on four floors.

Author and technology

All figures are the work of the world-famous sculptor Boris Borisov and his team of over 20 people. The idea to visualize the lives of representatives of different strata of medieval Bulgarian society is precisely his.

The life-size figures are created from special silicone, which is used in cinema and resembles the appearance of human skin. To achieve maximum realism:

- Specially made eye prostheses were used for the eyes
- Eyebrows, eyelashes, beards and hair are woven in by hand, hair by hair
- Clothes and equipment are made entirely by hand
- Every detail is precisely recreated

Exposition and theme

The museum presents historical figures and memorable events from the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th-14th centuries), when Tarnovgrad was the capital of Bulgaria. The exposition is developed in several main directions:

Royal power and glory:
- Figures of Tsar Kaloyan and Tsar Ivan Asen II
- The throne room of the Bulgarian kings
- Presentation of the greatness of the rulers

Military power:
- The Battle of Klokotnitsa (one of the new dioramas)
- Scene with the capture of Baldwin of Flanders by Tsar Kaloyan
- The military stratum and its equipment

Spiritual uplift:
- The development of literature
- The restoration of the books destroyed during the Byzantine rule
- Scenes from the London Tetraevangelium with Tsar Ivan Alexander
- Figure of John Kukuzel (famous Byzantine composer and singer)

Crafts and lifestyle:
- The development of iconography
- Crafts and a special place for Turnovo sgraffito ceramics
- Market scenes
- Boyar's dwelling with a minder and small stools
- Household with handmade bread

Historical events:
- The capture of Turnovo by the Ottomans (1393)

Visitor experience

The museum uses modern audiovisual equipment that complements the visual experience. The individual elements and compositions have appropriate lighting and sound, which makes the visit truly impressive.

The exhibition allows visitors to touch the different social strata in medieval Bulgarian society - from kings and boyars to clergy, soldiers, craftsmen and ordinary people.

Practical information

Opening hours:
- Summer season: 9:30-18:00
- Prevention: Monday from 9:00 to 12:00 (or until 12:30)

Guided tours:
Provided only by guides of the Regional History Museum of Veliko Tarnovo after prior request. Visiting hours are fixed every half hour. The technological time for serving one group is 30 minutes, and the group cannot exceed 15 people.

Important: A group without a request is served only if the schedule is free. A group with a requested time that exceeds the time by more than 15 minutes is not allowed into the site.

Location

The museum is located in the very heart of the old capital city, meters from the Tsarevets fortress and right opposite the Trapezitsa fortress.

Significance and popularity

Since its opening, the museum has been visited by over half a million people. It offers a unique journey into the Middle Ages, where, although through the eyes of modern man, we can touch a piece of Bulgarian history, in which the state is located on three seas and its culture reaches great flowering.

Future development

The Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo continues to invest in the development of the museum so that it can present even more fully the rich history of Veliko Tarnovo from the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - its royalty, military glory and spiritual power.

The Museum of Silicone Figures "Tsarevgrad Tarnovo" is not just a tourist attraction, but a living testimony to the glorious past of Bulgaria, presented in an innovative and impressive way that makes history accessible and fascinating for visitors of all ages.