Located right in the center of Vidin, the building of the current history museum is a building of particular historical importance, known as “Konak”. The construction, with a remarkable architectural plan, dates from the middle of the 17th century. During the Ottoman occupation, here was the residence of the military chief of the city, many of the architectural elements being of Eastern inspiration. After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, the building became the headquarters of the municipality of Vidin. The building has two floors and has undergone numerous repairs over time, which is why many of the original elements have been lost. In 1956, this building was transformed into a museum, under the name of the Vidin History Museum. In the courtyard around the building there are some archaeological remains from the Roman period, most of them found after the excavations from the Ulpia Ratsiaria Colony, from the fortress of Bononia and from the Roman fortress Martis. Inside the museum are exhibited several collections of objects, grouped onto period of time. We find here objects from the Iron and Bronze Age, such as stone and bronze objects, jewelry remnants and various tools, but also cult objects. The museum also houses collections from the Roman, Byzantine and medieval periods, ceramic, metal and silver objects, household items, but also some documents. Another part of the museum presents some landmarks from the more recent history of the city, namely the struggles to liberate the country from the Ottoman rule of 1878.
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