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Research & collections
The museum staff’s scientific research is linked with the latest national and international priorities in the fields of biodiversity, ecology, and nature conservation. The entomology and palaeozoology studies are especially intense... [more]
Specimen of Caroline parrot (Conuropsis carolinensis), a species which became extinct in 1914.
Last updated: 20.12.2009 15:40
Being the first and the richest natural history museum on the Balkans, the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia (NMNHS) studies, preserves and disseminates information about the living and non-living nature both in Bulgaria and throughout the world. Through its notable scientific collections and its impressive exhibitions, the museum has gained the reputation of a widely respectable institution over the years... [more]
About us
The National Museum of Natural History (NMNHS) has a history of almost one hundred and twenty years. It is the oldest museum in Bulgaria and the oldest and richest among the natural history museums on the Balkan Peninsula. It was founded in 1889 by the Royal Prince Ferdinand under the name Royal Prince’s Natural History Museum. At first it used to accommodate Prince Ferdinand’s personal collections of birds, mammals and butterflies. The first curator of the museum was the court doctor Dr Paul Leverkühn who was a famous ornithologist. He organised the first exposition in 14 halls on two floors in an old building where today’s museum stands and it was opened for visits in 1907. That year the first and until now the only full catalogue of collections was issued listing several thousand exhibits of that time... [more]
Visit us
The museum is open for the public every day from 10:00 to 18:00, except on 1 January, 3 March and 25 December... [more]
Exhibitions
The museum exhibitions occupy 16 halls on 4 floors. It exhibits the Caroline parrot, which became extinct world-wide, the monk seal, bearded vulture, little bustard, grey and maiden crane, steppe viper, German sturgeon... [more]
Hall 1 — Mineralogy • Hall 2 — Mineralogy • Hall 3 — Temporary exhibitions • Hall 4 — Mineralogy • Hall 5 — Birds • Hall 6 — Amphibians and reptiles • Hall 7 — Fishes • Hall 8 — Birds • Hall 9 — Palaeontology • Halls 10, 11, 12, 13 — Mammals • Hall 14 — Insects • Hall 15 — Non-insect invertebrates • Hall 16 — Plants
News
— Sofia 5 million years ago - a look back through a small discovery — [20.12.2009] — On 18.11.2009 scientists from the National Museum of Natural History discovered a whole skeleton of an ancient deer inhabited our lands approximately 5.5 million years ago... more
— Official celebration of the 120 anniversary of the museum's foundation — [23.10.2009] — 2009 marks 120 years since the founding of National Museum of Natural History. The culmination of the celebrations of the anniversary will be on 27 October... more
— Be a Bechstein's Bat — [5.10.2009] — The 13th European Bat Night, organised by the Bat Research And Conservation Centre at NMNHS and the Forum Democrit, took place on the 25th September 2009 in Sofia. The Water Tower in... more
— Book presentation: The Encyclopedia of Animals — [25.9.2009] — The Bulgarian edition of 'The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide' by Jenni Bruce at al. will be presented in the foyer of the first floor of the museum on Monday, 28 September... more
— In quest of the earliest pre-human history — [21.9.2009] — The National Museum of National History, Sofia started a palaeontological expedition in the area around the town of Chirpan... more
— The National Museum of Natural History, Sofia will participate in the 'Researchers' Night' — [15.9.2009] — The National Museum of Natural History, Sofia will participate for a second year in the initiative 'Researchers' Night'. The doors will be open from 17:00 to 20:00 on Friday, 25 September.... more
— Official celebration of the 120 anniversary of the museum's foundation — [23.10.2009] — 2009 marks 120 years since the founding of National Museum of Natural History. The culmination of the celebrations of the anniversary will be on 27 October... more
— Be a Bechstein's Bat — [5.10.2009] — The 13th European Bat Night, organised by the Bat Research And Conservation Centre at NMNHS and the Forum Democrit, took place on the 25th September 2009 in Sofia. The Water Tower in... more
— Book presentation: The Encyclopedia of Animals — [25.9.2009] — The Bulgarian edition of 'The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide' by Jenni Bruce at al. will be presented in the foyer of the first floor of the museum on Monday, 28 September... more
— In quest of the earliest pre-human history — [21.9.2009] — The National Museum of National History, Sofia started a palaeontological expedition in the area around the town of Chirpan... more
— The National Museum of Natural History, Sofia will participate in the 'Researchers' Night' — [15.9.2009] — The National Museum of Natural History, Sofia will participate for a second year in the initiative 'Researchers' Night'. The doors will be open from 17:00 to 20:00 on Friday, 25 September.... more