Bulgaria is in the company of Britain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Georgia and a number of others to feature lions on its heraldry, and lions of all shapes and sizes decorate various public spaces in towns and villages. Some of them are 19th century and were erected after the 1878 independence. Some belong to newer times, including the Communist period. Many were made by professional artists commissioned by local authorities, but others were chiseled by amateurs whose sense of national pride and patriotism sometimes outperformed their proclivity for sculpting. The one featured here is one of the best examples of a 19th century Bulgarian lion standing in the middle of the central square of a large town.

Where in Bulgaria are you?

Email your answers to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you can win a copy of Hidden Treasures of Bulgaria 2