Payless

Aleko Konstantinov gave his native home to the Svishtov Municipality. It is now organized as a remarkable exhibition.

The great Bulgarian writer is born on January 1, 1863. At this time the town flourished, exporting mainly grains, not only in the Ottoman Empire, but in Romania, Austria and Russia. The father of Aleko Konstantinov is descirbed as a wealthy merchant who spoke five languages, as a proud and domineering man, and his mother is remembered as dreamy and gentle woman - qualities which are transmitted to her son.

Aleko Konstantinov is lucky to go study from Emmanuel Vaskidovich and Janko Mustakov in Svishtov, and after two years he went to the famous school of Hristaki Pavlovich. Then he continued to study in the Aprilov School in Gabrovo, but his education was interrupted by the ongoing Russo-Turkish War. Emperor Alexander II, in his third coming in Svishtov, stayed in the home of the writer’s family.

Today's exposure keeps memories of it all. Also in this house later was housed the office of the Svishtov Municipality led by Nayden Gerov. Employees there were such people as Ivan Vazov, Dragan Tsankov and Nikola Zhivkov. Aleko Konstantinov himself worked as a clerk.

After the war, Konstantinov studied in Nikolaev, Russia, where he became acquainted with the works of the Russian writers. There he printed his first poems, began to translate foreign literature, wrote plays and composed, because in addition to the literature, he was strongly attracted to the music. Then he continued his studies at Novorusiyskiy University in Odessa. In 1885 he returned to Bulgaria, met with Pencho Slaveykov and Dr. Krastev, translated from Russian and French, took an increasingly active part in the political life. He is a passionate admirer of travel: in 1889 he visited the World Exhibition in Paris, in 1891 - the World Exhibition in Prague, and two years later he traveled to Chicago. These travels strongly influenced his writings - "To Chicago and Back" and "Bai Ganyo". This remarkable artist and a citizen became a favorite of the majority of the Bulgarians. His feuilletons written in bold and ironic manner condemn all the bad habits that have reigned in Bulgaria in that time.

On May 11, 1897, on the road near the village Radilovo near Pazardzhik, Aleko Konstantinov was shot with a single bullet in the heart. The shot was intended for his friend and political ally Michael Takev.


There is not much left from the archives of the writer: 19 books, several newspapers and magazines, twenty photos, turntable without funnel, photographic tripod, pen and barber supplies. Also, three photographs taken by himself, his permit for the exercise of legal practice, three handwritten notebooks with several pages left and receipts.

His works remain immortal as is his fame as a founder of the organized tourist movement in Bulgaria. As it is aware, on 27 August 1895 he organised a hiking in Vitosha Mountain near Sofia. His lines, dedicated to the Bulgarian nature, are written with inspiration and love.