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Dobri Voinikov Community Center

- Vazrazhdane Square 4 -
The construction of the community center, which lasted three years and four months, started in 1895 and was built according to a design of the French architect Jean Antonin Mercie. During the construction of the building, it was necessary to extend the building and add one floor from the eastern and western sides, which was executed by the Bulgarian architect . For the construction, they used local stone, bricks from the Trud factory from , pine beams for binders for the roof structure from the island of Heraklia, iron beams for the floor structures from Germany, and colored glazed bricks from . They also erected a monument for the benefactor in front of the building, which was unveiled on May 9, 1899. The grand opening of the building took place on December 28, 1898, with the presentation of a play by .
An old postcard from 1910 showing the building
The community center, which was one of the first ones in the country together with and , was founded in the spring of 1856 by the Bulgarian writer, theater actor, and teacher and was named . The idea for a new building was implemented by , a young, energetic, and highly educated lawyer, who in 1893 was elected chairman of the community board. His idea was received with enthusiasm, and the community center's board of trustees turned to the town hall with a request to help them, since it is planned that the community center library will be a city library, which was approved.

The first operetta in the country was staged in the community center in 1914, which marked the beginning of operetta in Bulgaria. The community center, which was renamed in 1946 to , houses the first Bulgarian children's library, the Native Sounds Mixed Choir, as well as a cinema. Since 1970, the community center has been the main organizer of the National Festival for amateur and historical films.
The choir with their founders in 1939 in the yard in front of the building
On top of both the east and the west side of the Neo-Classical and Neo-Renaissance building, you'll be able to see a with on top of them a and two . The tympanums, as well as some parts of the roof , are embellished with a strip of . On both sides, you can see that are adorned with three and crowned with a Doric , which is embellished with an motif. The ones on the east side, where you can also admire many pilasters that are crowned with an Ionic capital, are flanked by garland wreaths. A cornice is placed between the first and second floor, which is decorated with an egg-and-dart, an , and a motif on this same side. The three that are placed above first floor windows are either decorated with foliage or a of the Greek god . The pilasters on this side also contain a that is held up by a head of a ram, which is a symbol of power to penetrate, overcome, and achieve.

The three open that interrupt the roof cornice that's placed above the southern entrance, are topped with another palmette. The keystones that are placed on top of the circle top windows are either adorned with acanthus foliage or a bust of Archangel Michael. The three different-sized that hold up the straight pediment that's placed above the side doors are also adorned with acanthus foliage. The use of white and the different colored bricks gives the building a nice contracting effect.
The symphony orchestra performing at the community center on May 26, 1948