The historical parks and gardens in Sofia include urban areas landscaped and planted with plant species in the period following the Liberation in 1878 until 1943. Among them are the Borisova Gradina Historical Reserve, Vrana Park, Town’s Garden (in front of the Palace and the National Theater), Banski Square (in front of the Central Mineral Baths), the gardens surrounding the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the ‘Doctors Memorial’ gardens and those in front of the St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library, Sofia University, Military Club, Vazrazhdane Square, historical planting campaigns along the Vladaiska and Perlovska Rivers, Macedonia Blvd, Russian Monument, Totleben Blvd, the gardens in the town districts of Lozenets, Izgrev, and a portion of the Hunting Park.
The Vrana Park is a cultural monument to the garden and park art in the ‘national importance’ category, as promulgated in SG, issue 41/1992. It is located some 11 km southeast of Sofia, near the Iskar River and Trakia Highway, occupying an area of about 800 decares. The Vrana Park compositionwas influenced by the key elements of the 19th century German classic parks. Set up in the first years after the Liberation in 1878, the Park marked the foundation of the park art in the country. Initially King Ferdinand bought the Chardaklia Farm in 1889 through an intermediary, joining new land from the surrounding areas in a few years later. The Park history covers three periods. The First Period (1903-1909, landscapers: G. Shapkarov, V. Georgiev, Jules Loshto and Johan Kelerer) witnessed the spontaneous development of the lane network, building of small area rock gardens, Lotus Lake, and some of the show greenhouses. The landscaping used afforestation, mainly conifers. Landscape style park compositions were created, featuring alleys and decorative park and architectural elements. The Hunting Lodge was build during the First Period of the park composition (in 1905, architect G.Fingov). The architecture was influenced by Bulgarian national heritage elements and the then modern Art Nouveau (Secession)style. The Second Period of the the park development began with the planting of hundreds of ornamental trees and shrubs. A sort of a landscape style botanical garden was set up. Aquatic plants in the Lily Lake and alpine plants in the ‘Daalem’and ‘Golemia Alpineum’ rock gardens were added to the rare flora species. The Second Period of the Vrana Park development (1909-1926, landscapers: Anton Kraus, Kelerer, and Richard Noyvert) witnessed the upgrading of the the landed property from a farm with a hunting lodge into a landscaped park with a summer royal residence. The New Palace building(1909-1913, architect N. Lazarov) occupied a central location in the Park. The architecture was eclectic and strongly influenced by national heritage elements and Romanesque architecture. The interior was rich in decorative art influenced by the Art Nouveau (Secession) style and Bulgarian cultural heritage (mosaics, paneling, wood carvings, mobile and stationary furniture, paintings, etc.). The park development was completed during the Third Period (1926 - 1940, landscapers: Wilhelm Schacht and Kelerer). Tree planted areas were reorganized, rock gardens redeveloped, and small ponds and the Stepnata Garden were set up. The park compositionhad been already completed by 1938. Among the facilities in the Vrana Park were the show and production greenhouses (1908), garages and telephone exchange, the Barn (that belonged to the farm of Hadzhi Bone Petrov, 1800), ornamental bridges, gazebos, etc.
The buildings of the Hunting Lodge and New Palace formed a common architectural ensemble connected with a kitchen area and covered gallery. The 1944 bombing demolished the Tower of the New Palace and burned the third floor. Some minor changes to the original baroque plan of the New Palace were made during the subsequent rehabilitation works (1950-1954, architect P. Zlatev).
The Vrana Park is presently managed and maintained by the Sofia Municipality.
