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Bulgaria

Bulgaria has a multitude of sites related to Jonas Basanavičius, a person who is known in Lithuania as the patriarch of Lithuania. Basanavičius was instrumental in creating the first Republic of Lithuania (declared in 1918). He was a Lithuanian born in Lithuania but spent 25 years in Bulgaria where he also started his political career. In Bulgaria, he worked as a doctor in the cities of Varna and Lom.

While his fame in Bulgaria was not nearly as big as in Lithuania, he still became quite famous, especially so in Varna where he served as a city councillor, suggesting turning Varna into a resort as well as establishing a Museum of Archeology (now the most famous such museum in Bulgaria).

Both Varna and Lom now have streets named after Basanavičius - however, the name is Ivan Basanovich rather than Jonas Basanavičius. Back in those days it was common to use different versions of one's name depending on the language, and Ivan Basanovich is a bulgarianized version of Basanavičius's name which he used when speaking in Bulgarian to Bulgarians.

A socialist-era multistorey apartment block in the Ivan Basanovich street at Varna

A socialist-era multistorey apartment block in the Ivan Basanovich street at Varna

Additionally, Varna has a small commemorative column dedicated to Basanvičius in Panagyurishte street. It is located on the spot where Basavičius's home (now destroyed) used to stand. On the pole Basanavičius's Lithuanian name is written, although in Cyrillic.

Memorial post for Jonas Basanavičius at Panagyurishte street in Varna

Memorial post for Jonas Basanavičius at Panagyurishte street in Varna

Memorial post for Jonas Basanavičius at Panagyurishte street in Varna

Memorial post for Jonas Basanavičius at Panagyurishte street in Varna

The newest commemoration of Jonas Basanavičius is a commemorative plaque dedicated to Basanavičius in Mirskiy street of Varna. It is located on house no. 3, another house where Basanavičius lived at. The plaque was installed by the embassy of Lithuania to Romania (and Bulgaria) in 2018, commemorating centenary of Lithuanian independence. The additional location where Basanavičius lived has been discovered by Mociškis, a prosecutor of Lithuania who travelled in Varna as a hobby.

House where Jonas Basanavičius lived at Mirskiy street

House where Jonas Basanavičius lived at Mirskiy street

Commemorative plaque for Jonas Basanvičius at Mirskiy street

Commemorative plaque for Jonas Basanavičius at Mirskiy street

"Gabalėliai Lietuvos" TV laida apie lietuvių paveldą Bulgarijoje

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