bg Sofia

Kalin Naidenov House

- Vasil Levski Boulevard 53 -
The building is the work of the Austrian architect Karl Heinrich and was built in 1907. It was built for the Bulgarian officer, lieutenant general of the artillery and engineering department and politician Kalin Georgiev Naidenov. He was born on February 18, 1865, in in the family of Georgi Kalinov Naidenov and Stoyka Peeva Naidenova. He completed his secondary education in , and on August 30, 1885, he graduated from the Military of His Princely Highness school and was promoted to lieutenant.

During the , he was a commander of the First Artillery Regiment and took part in the battles near , and got wounded at the Tri Ushi peak. In 1888 he took an examination and went to study at the Military Academy in , where he graduated in 1891 and received the title of Artillery Engineer. On May 18, 1890, he was promoted to the rank of captain. In 1892 he was sent to Germany to the Krupp factories, and then to France and England to study the production of artillery equipment. Based on this knowledge and skills, many European countries sought the services of the general for advice.
Kalin Georgiev Naidenov in 1901
During the , he was assistant chief of artillery at the Army Headquarters. On October 19, 1913, he was appointed inspector of artillery, a position he held until September 25, 1915. During this time he was promoted to the rank of major general. During the mobilization of the Bulgarian army for participation in the , he was appointed Minister of War. In March 1923 he was sentenced by the Third State Court to 15 years in imprisonment as the culprit of the second national catastrophe. He was amnestied in 1924 and became a teacher of artillery at the Military School. Lieutenant General Kalin Naidenov died in the on the church called Holy Sunday on April 16, 1925.
An old photo from 1970s showing the building
What really stands out in the building, which was built in Art Nouveau style, are the segmental roof and the lavishly decorated friezes. Two garlands and a are decorating the arch shaped window on the southern side of the building. The building features two , both of them with a small balcony on top of them. Another balcony can be seen on the southern side of the building. All of the balconies are secured with a beautifully decorated wrought iron railing. The , underneath some of the windows on the second floor, are adorned with . The , which can be seen on the second floor, are decorated with garlands and . The that flank the windows are crowned with a Corinthian . A plaque was placed in honor of the lieutenant general on the southern facade.
The plaque stating that Kalin Naidenov lived in this house