THE largest German cultural fund - the Messerschmitt foundation - donated 180 000 euro for the recently completed restoration of a facade of the Sofia Count Palace.
German architects designed the palace and it is one of the oldest museums in Bulgaria. It was built more than a century ago and currently hosts the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum.
Messerschmitt chairman Hans Heinrich von Srbik and Bulgarian Culture Minister Bozhidar Abrashev opened the restored northeastern facade of the building last Wednesday.
"This monument is a highest example of the European cultural inheritance," said Abrashev, quoted by Dnevnik daily. "It is a symbol for many generations of Bulgarians and connects the Bulgarian and the German people."
Von Srbik said, "This [sponsorship] is a greeting from Germany to Bulgaria. Projects such as this one are realised when there is harmony and co-operation between people. This is true for the European family which you will join soon."
Von Srbik said the building looked beautiful, and could remind Bulgarians of their brighter future.
"I hope that when people pass by this beautiful facade they will believe that Bulgaria has a future that is also so beautiful," he said.
Deputy minister of culture Bissera Yossifova announced that the Ministry of Culture would develop a project for restoring the park around the palace, which was planted with rare vegetation. The ministry would apply for funding for this project through the PHARE program for cultural tourism, she said.
Srbik said Messerschmitt would probably also finance the restoration of the large ballroom in the palace, as well as other monuments in Bulgaria which are connected to Germany and German culture.
"Whether the foundation takes up other projects here depends on the future relations between your country and Germany," he said.
The Messerschmitt Founda-tion invests millions of euro in the restoration of castles, palaces, and monuments all around Europe. Some of the buildings on its list are the Potsdam palace, the Abraham Yoffe Institute in St. Petersburg, and buildings in Sighisoara, Romania.
German architects designed the palace and it is one of the oldest museums in Bulgaria. It was built more than a century ago and currently hosts the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum.
Messerschmitt chairman Hans Heinrich von Srbik and Bulgarian Culture Minister Bozhidar Abrashev opened the restored northeastern facade of the building last Wednesday.
"This monument is a highest example of the European cultural inheritance," said Abrashev, quoted by Dnevnik daily. "It is a symbol for many generations of Bulgarians and connects the Bulgarian and the German people."
Von Srbik said, "This [sponsorship] is a greeting from Germany to Bulgaria. Projects such as this one are realised when there is harmony and co-operation between people. This is true for the European family which you will join soon."
Von Srbik said the building looked beautiful, and could remind Bulgarians of their brighter future.
"I hope that when people pass by this beautiful facade they will believe that Bulgaria has a future that is also so beautiful," he said.
Deputy minister of culture Bissera Yossifova announced that the Ministry of Culture would develop a project for restoring the park around the palace, which was planted with rare vegetation. The ministry would apply for funding for this project through the PHARE program for cultural tourism, she said.
Srbik said Messerschmitt would probably also finance the restoration of the large ballroom in the palace, as well as other monuments in Bulgaria which are connected to Germany and German culture.
"Whether the foundation takes up other projects here depends on the future relations between your country and Germany," he said.
The Messerschmitt Founda-tion invests millions of euro in the restoration of castles, palaces, and monuments all around Europe. Some of the buildings on its list are the Potsdam palace, the Abraham Yoffe Institute in St. Petersburg, and buildings in Sighisoara, Romania.
