Sofia Court House

Overview

The Sofia Court House (Sadebna palata) is an impressive building in Sofia, accommodating all the courts in the city. It is located on 2 Vitosha Boulevard, surrounded by Alabin Street, Laveleye Street and Positano Street, in the heart of downtown Sofia

The need for a common building to house all the courts in Sofia was raised in 1926. Construction began in 1929 and finished in 1940. Sofia Court House is the first building in Sofia in this style. Later, the Bulgarian National Bank was built in the same style in the 1930s and the Largo in the 1950s. The original architectural plan was done by Nikola Lazarov, later revised by Pencho Koychev. The Courthouse has a syenite plinth, white limestone cladding, and a noticeable cornice below the top floor. The four-storey building (with two additional underground floors) spreads over a plot of 8500 sq.m and consists of 430 rooms, of which 24 courtrooms, a library, and a bank hall.

The facade features five large gates and 12 columns. 

In the period 1980-1998 the building housed the National museum of history.

The Court House has been the seat of the third power in the state - the judiciary power, during the communist regime and after it.