13,137 were the visitors to the museum sites in RHM-Razgrad last year, people from four continents visited the sites
The Director of the Regional Historical Museum Razgrad, Tanya Todorova, presented the achievements and upcoming events at the cultural institution. In an interview, she reported on the successes of the museum over the past year and outlined the most important highlights for the new tourist season that started on April 1.
Mrs. Todorova, what does the completed tourist season at the Regional History Museum – Razgrad indicate for 2025?
The total number of visitors to the museum sites of RHM Razgrad for the last year is 13,137 – in the Interactive Museum, the archaeological exhibition “Traces of Antiquity” in the “Abritus” Archaeological Reserve, the Ethnographic Museum, the “Stanka and Nikola Ikonomovi” House Museum, the “Anani Yavashov” House Museum. The most visited museum sites are the Interactive Museum and the Archaeological Exhibition, as they were visited by 10,537 people last year, of which 6,954 paid and 3,583 free. In third place among our sites is the Ethnographic Museum with 1,899 visitors. The most popular months of the year for visits are from April to October inclusive, and in both sites – the Interactive Museum and the archaeological exhibition in the category of visitors are mainly adults – 3,395 people, and 3,375 students. It is outlined: during the past tourist season, mainly groups of adults, students, pensioner groups, of which we have an extremely large number, tourist organizations actively visited. I would like to note that the museum sites in the category “people with disabilities and children up to 7 years old” have free admission. Last year, 1221 people visited us in this category. In the Ethnographic Museum, the preferred months for visits are from October to December inclusive. There are mainly adults and student groups. Last year, foreign visitors were very diverse. We were visited by people living in four continents – Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. The most from Europe are – England, Italy, France, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Cyprus, Poland, from Asia – Japan, Israel, from North America from the USA and Canada, and from Australia.
For four years, we have placed questionnaires in our sites, where the visitor has feedback – shares whether he is satisfied with the museum exhibitions, the service, the product that we offer with content of cultural value and scientific value, whether the visits are informative and interesting. Most visitors in the questionnaires indicated that the site is interesting. We also have a question about where they learned about our sites – most often this is from the “One Hundred National Tourist Sites”, where the Abritus Fortress is included, they also learned from other sources: the Internet, tour operators, the museum website, family, friends, social networks. From April 1 this year we started this year’s tourist season, in which for one week the main visitors are school groups and individual visitors, we have requests for the whole of April. The museum sites will be open during the Easter holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. After the holidays, a number of other events are coming up, in which we will attract other communities and people with different needs.
In recent years, the museum has been actively working with the school audience. What is planned in this direction over the next 2-3 months?
Over the past four years, we have developed a considerable number of programs in this area. A large part of the museum’s activities in recent years has been aimed at the student age group. Among these programs are “Adventures in Abritus,” another program titled “From Egypt to… Scandinavia,” creative workshops, and a number of other educational programs and initiatives related to children. Very soon, we are about to mark the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising. The Regional Historical Museum, together with the Military District Office and the schools in Razgrad, will commemorate the anniversary precisely during the holidays—on April 20. Our museum specialists will hold educational talks and lectures in the “Bulgarian Warrior” hall at the Military District Office for all schools in Razgrad, including the Foreign Language High School “Exarch Joseph” and the Primary School “Nikola Ikonomov,” with schedules still being prepared. There is strong interest from schools in educational talks and lectures, which is why we may extend the events and hold these sessions on April 21 as well. Let me also note that as early as January this year, the Regional Historical Museum launched an initiative to mark events dedicated to the anniversary of the April Uprising. Back in January, we hosted an exhibition from the Historical Museum in Batak, which was presented at the Ethnographic Museum in Razgrad.
What can we expect from the museum’s research activities in the months ahead?
We are preparing to hold a wonderful initiative, which has already established itself for 3 years – precisely among young scientists. We have started the organization of the third doctoral, postdoctoral and local history readings, which will take place on May 18, on Museum Day. This year we have even greater participation, which gives us an incentive to move forward, and confidence that the scientific community needs such a forum dedicated to young doctoral students. The forum has included the universities of Veliko Tarnovo and Shumen, which also participate in the doctoral readings program. We also have a partnership agreement with them. Other universities with a humanitarian profile are also in the future plans. This year we also have international participation, but let’s see when it gets closer. The program will be published on May 4.
Are there any planned performances and presentations of the museum in other cities in the country in the next 3 months?
On April 29, we will visit the museum in Tran with the exhibition dedicated to Eli Nedelcheva “The Lady of Clay”. Last year, the exhibition also visited Troyan, we visited North Macedonia, and now we will soon visit the museum in Tran.
As the director, how do you assess the museum’s achievements across all its areas of activity?
I would give a good assessment to all the employees at the museum who implement the annual program in the priorities of collecting activities, scientific activities, cultural events, exhibitions, and working with community groups, in order to pass on our heritage. But mainly the visitors, our residents of Ludogorie, can tell me how they appreciate our work. So far, they tell me that we surprise them with very pleasant and interesting things. We have indeed implemented many events with different focuses and for different age groups. Visitors to the museum can also leave messages in the books that are placed in a prominent place. They also indicate there that they are most satisfied with our tour guides, which is a criterion for their well-done work. We work very well with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria, and a forum for innovations and key competencies in the development of education was held, organized by the Bulgarian Youth and Sports Council, in which we participated with a report “The Museum as a Key Component in Development”.
Are there any updates on the upcoming major renovation for the expansion of the museum’s administrative building?
We are facing a significant challenge ahead—all of us at the museum—to prepare for the expansion and development of the museum’s infrastructure. Plans include the full reconstruction of the administrative building, where the archaeological exhibition is currently located on the second floor. According to the plans of the Municipality of Razgrad, a visitor attraction center will also be created there. Work is also planned on the “Dimitar Nenov” House-Museum. It was closed in 1917 due to structural issues, and the Municipality of Razgrad has taken the necessary measures. This year, its strengthening will begin so that it can be reopened to visitors.
At the end of last year, the votive tablet “Thracian Horseman”, stolen in 1996, was returned to the Regional History Museum. On this occasion, could more be said about the protection of the priceless exhibits in the collections?
Yes, at the end of last year we really received very happy news that a votive tablet of a Thracian horseman from the 2nd-3rd century returned to its home – the Razgrad Regional Historical Museum, after nearly 30 years of wandering abroad. This was very positive news for us. Thanks to the Bulgarian and Spanish authorities, as well as Madame Shebra, it returned to us at the end of last year. Now it will be exhibited on May 18, when we will open the third doctoral readings. In the coming months, visitors will be able to see the famous votive tablet with a hunting scene. The unique thing is that it already has added value with its wandering in private collections. On May 18, it will be exhibited in the Interactive Museum and will remain there for 2 months. In connection with the preservation of the heritage of movable cultural values, the RIM processes about 70 thousand pieces in its depositories and permanent exhibitions. We undertake security according to our schedules, which are in our regulations.
