Radetsky National Steamship Museum

Overview

The Austrian steamer Radetzky was built in 1851 in Budapest. On May 29, 1876, Hristo Botev's detachment captured the steamer and forced it to stop on the Bulgarian coast near the village of Kozloduy, from where it headed for the Vratsa Balkans to fight for the freedom of Bulgaria. In 1966, an exact replica of the legendary steamer was built with funds raised from 1,200,000 Bulgarian children. Since 1982 it has had the status of a national museum. It is located on the eternal port in the town of Kozloduy and since April 16, 2004 is a branch of the National History Museum in Sofia. The Radetsky Steamship Museum is entirely connected with the life and work of Hristo Botev, with his tragic death, as well as with his detachment. Over the years, it has become a national shrine. There is an exposition in which you can see valuable relics such as the flag of Botev's detachment, uniforms of Botev's rebels, the last letters written by the voivode Hristo Botev on board the steamer and others. The Radetzky Steamship Museum is the only traveling steamer museum on the Balkan Peninsula and in Bulgaria. He travels with organized groups every year from April to the end of October.