bg Varna

Ivan Drasov House

- Preslav Street 51 -
The residential and commercial building was built in 1894 and was designed by a Czech architect. It was built for the Bulgarian national revolutionary, public figure, and statesman Ivan Drasov. He was born on March 19, 1848, in and studied at the Upper Apostles Mutual School in his hometown. He took an active part in the struggle for the establishment of an independent Bulgarian church and was a close associate and confidant of .

In 1872, he left Lovech and moved to the Czech Republic where he studied at the high schools of and . Here he conducts propaganda activities among Bulgarian students. At the same time, he was suspected by the Turkish authorities of participating in revolutionary activities. After completing his education he settled in where he took part in the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee.

During the , he was placed in the service of the Russian command. After the second liberation of Lovech, he was elected by the citizens of Lovech as the first mayor of the city. As an active member of the Liberal People's Party, he was the secretary of the Lovech District Council and District Governor in several cities including Varna. Ivan Drasov died on September 27, 1901, in Varna at the age of 53.
Ivan Todorov Drasov
The symmetrical building was built in the Neo-Renaissance style. In the center of the building, you'll see the most eye-catching feature of the building, which is the containing a sculpture of a female figure. Some of the that can be seen on the second floor are crowned with Ionic , while others are crowned with Corinthian capitals. In between the pilasters you can see a small fragment that's embellished with foliage, as well as a containing either three or two . The same balusters can be seen within the balustrade of the two balconies, which are supported by three each. Underneath de roof , you'll see a frieze that's adorned with lion head .
An old postcard showing the building on the right