Tutrakan Epic Memorial Complex

The creation of the Tutrakan Epic Memorial Complex is a bold and innovative initiative to turn the story of the Tutrakan fortress conquest in September 1916 into an experience for the visitor. A place where everyone can feel as participant in one of the most exciting episodes of Bulgaria's past, which, until recently, was placed in the corner of history because it was inconvenient for the political elite. It is no accident that it is being built near the place where the real events for the liberation of occupied Dobrudzha took place and where today more than 10 000 people rest in peace – Memorial "Military Cemetery 1916" near the village of Shumentsi, Tutrakan.

The aim is to create a modern museum dedicated to the Wars for National Unification, as the events in Bulgaria will be presented in the context of the Great War, which involved the majority of the world in the beginning of the XXth century.

Who?

The idea is implemented jointly by the Municipality of Tutrakan, the Historical Museum Tutrakan and the "Archeget" Foundation as it combines a high level of creative ambition in design, audio-visual approaches and new technologies. In November, the Tutrakan Epic Memorial Complex received the Most Innovative Project Award in the national campaign of Standard Media "The Wonders of Bulgaria" with the participation of the international citizens' initiative in support of the cultural heritage "Europa Nostra" and Pete Yaspert, Vice President of the organization.

In November, the "Tutrakan Epic" memorial complex also received an award for the most innovative project in the national campaign of the "Standard" media: "The Wonders of Bulgaria", with the participation of the international civil initiative in support of the cultural heritage "Europa Nostra" and Pete Jaspert, vice president of the organization.

Tutrakan Municipality

Tutrakan Historical Museum

Archeget Foundation

What?

The construction of the innovative museum complex includes an experience for different audiences, including the youngest visitors. The relatively limited area of 1,300 square meters provides for the following spaces:

1. Lobby with a reception desk, coffee shop, literature in different languages and souvenirs – a space in which the visitor will have the opportunity to spend time before and after passing through the exhibition spaces. Similarly to the European and global practices in this area, the visitor will be able to relax and reflect on the experience, as well as to purchase various items – a part of the museum brand “Tutrakan Epic”, valuable replicas of awards, albums with archival photos and literature, aimed at both Bulgarian and international audiences. Information kiosks will also be located here, providing more in-depth information about the history of World War I to those who are interested.

2. Multifunctional hall – Exhibition – this hall combines the classic museum narrative presented in segmented multi-layered showcases with a modern design, consistent with the dynamics of historical events and personalities. At the same time, the exposition will have information aimed at various target audiences with different interests and levels of knowledge. The main historical markers will be displayed in close-up view, surrounded by the detail of the historical events. A multimedia installation functioning as a 3D map of the Dobruja Front fighting will be installed on one of the exhibition hall walls. The same hall will also accommodate conferences, seminars, educational activities and trainings.

3. Diorama Hall – the heart of the project. It is the most ambitious space in the museum complex as there are only a few similar examples in the world such as the Arromansch-Ben Museum – recreating the battle for Normandy in World War II andthe Theater 36◯ Museum at the National Museum of Natural History in Japan. Similar initiatives arethe Igloo VR Domes, which are increasingly entering different spheres of activity, but the dimensions are significantly smaller. The hall will have a diameter of 18 m and a height of 6 m constructed of LED monitors connected seamlessly as the viewerstands in the middle of a trench, part of the Tutrakan fortified position, surrounded by real artifacts from the battlefield. This part of the exhibition gives him the opportunity to experience the attack on Fort No. 6 of the Tutrakan Fortress as a direct participant in the events. The décor and surroundings will complement the events on the video walls. A 360-degree audio- visual product presenting the attack of the fortress is to be created in order to provide an immersive experience to the viewer and enable him to re-live the events through the means of cinematography.

4. A themed playground is planned for the youngest visitors where activities, games and trainings will be held, including ones using an interactive training table.

The area around the building will include a parking lot and a park with sculptural elements, which will correspond with the surroundings of the memorial. The visitors will be able to spend time alone or take part in discussions, as well as to pay tribute to the victims of this sacred for the Bulgarian identity place.

Why?

The modern world is becoming increasingly dynamic and demanding and so is the man of the XXIst century, adolescents and young people in particular. The modern museum expositions have to convey the spirit of the present day in order to attract visitors, including students. This way they will be able to obtain valuable and scientifically credible information, as well as become sympathetic to their own past and build an attitude towards its preservation and conservation. Standing at the heart of the battle the visitors will witness and live through the emotions and experiences of the ordinary soldier in the trench and of all the boys who died so that we can exist and live today.

Moreover, here, near fort number 6, more than 100 years ago, the Association "September 6th" launched an initiative for the construction of a museum- ossuary in memory of the victims for the liberation of Dobruja. These efforts continued in 1922 when the local population built a monument an obelisk to honour those who died on the battlefields of the Northern Front either on the side of the victors or the defeated. Thus, the idea of the “Tutrakan Epic” Memorial Complex has found continuity for more than a century and is evolving with the spirit of the times, the development of technology and the demands of the new generations. Today Bulgaria is part of the larger European family and, to a large extent, history is revealing the futility of war, which is destroying lives as the real decisions have always been made at the political table.

How?

For several years the project has been developed by an interdisciplinary team of historians, designers, architects, engineers, artists and specialists in the technological and creative layout of the audiovisual products, which the complex will contain. The goal is to achieve a high level of awareness and historical credibility, while, at the same time, provide a fascinating experience in the museum spaces. The contemporary design of the building and the layout of the park are complementary to the sacral space of “Military Tomb – 1916”.

During the last two years our team made the first steps in introducing the new technologies from the gaming industry to the museum exposition of the Historical Museum – Tutrakan by creating a VR exposition product presenting the Bulgarian perspective on the attack. Experience shows that audiences of different age groups, level of education and social status react extremely emotionally to the events and the new museum narrative. This was proven by the high attendanceas in just 4 months the exposition was visited by over 3000 people. Currently, the team is working on developing partnerships with European military museums aimed at sharing experience and building a partner network to complement and enrich information, exchange exhibitions and joint events to promote our common history.

In 2022, the building and the adjacent spaces together with the high-tech equipment are being constructed and put in place. The project is planned to be completed by December 2023. The creation of an audiovisual product, part of the Diorama, which is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors from Bulgaria and additional visitors from the cross-border region and Europe, is forthcoming.

About the Tutrakan epic

The Tutrakan epic is a story about the strength of the human spirit and the iron will. In this story, our army brilliantly succeeds to attack and seize the most modern military facility, built for almost 3 years. After the declaration of war on Romania, the Third Army, under the command of Gen. Stefan Toshev, was deployed to the Northern Front. Gen. Toshev who besides being a brilliant military commander, was also a master of speech. On 2 September, 1916 his words that thrilled the army are still remembered : “Heroes, you are going to beat them! You will crush them! You will take Tutrakan! " In fact, few believed that this fortress could be conquered. The attack on Tutrakan began on 5 September, 1916 under the command of Gen. Panteley Kiselov. In just a few hours, without stopping until utter exhaustion the Bulgarian soldiers managed to capture the main forts of the outer fortification line. The second fortification line fell on the next day, with the same impetus. The Romanian Gen. K. Teodorescu left the battlefield in panic and the same panic overtook all Romanian soldiers who fled to the Danube to save themselves. The boats were overloaded and under the fire of the Bulgarian artillery the river turned blue from the soldiers' uniforms. Right after the battle, the Fourth Preslav Division decided to bury the fallen Bulgarian, Romanian and German soldiers in the trenches of Fort No. 6, where the Military Cemetery 1916 is located today.

But beyond the facts and statistics, we keep the memory of the thousands of Bulgarian boys whose iron spirit was not broken by the scarcity and deprivation. for days, weeks and months shared a withered and moldy loaf, who in the scarcity of the Bulgarian army wore the most iron spirit and reverie… For them the physical pain and the horror of death could not have been real obstacles in the path to justice and the dream of Bulgaria. Today their spirit remains there, near Tutrakan.