Perched atop a peak in Buzludzha, a picturesque region of Bulgaria, the colossal structure resembling a UFO or a set piece from a Star Wars film is, in fact, the extraordinary residence of the Bulgarian communist party.
The abandoned symbolic headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party looks exactly like a UFO dropped out of the sky and came to rest on the peak of Mount Buzludzha.
It stands at an impressive 1,432 metres tall, giving the extra-terrestrials a commanding view of the landscape for miles around – a great vantage point from which to discover earth.
Also known as the Buzludzha Monument, it was completed in 1981 by Bulgarian’s communist rulers to commemorate the Bulgarian’s liberation from the Ottoman Empire in 1891.
The ceiling is emblazoned with Karl Marx’s rallying cry: “Proletarians of all countries, unite!”
There are also shards of red glass still remaining from a shining communist five-pointed star that was three times as big as the one at the Kremlin.
These snaps were taken by Roman, a 29-year-old urban photographer and service manager from the Netherlands.
He said: “I loved this place. My breath was taken away. It was larger than I expected and I was surprised by the craftsmanship of the mosaic on the walls and ceiling.
“The building surpassed my wildest dreams. It’s insane that this building was only open for about eight years and the state it’s currently in is such a shame.
The 29-year-old said he took the pictures in December and admitted he was expecting to run into the worst conditions while climbing the mountaintop.
He continued: “Luckily there wasn’t a lot of snow, but the road leading up to it was in a very bad condition and slippery due to the ice on it.
“In the photos I want to shine a light on the history of the place and the meaning of it right now.”
After the fall of Bulgaria’s communist regime in 1990, the building fell into disrepair, which was hastened when all of the copper was stolen from the roof.
The husk of the “UFO” has now become a spot for graffiti and political art for those who manage to reach it.
