Shipka Memorial Church

Gabrovo Province, Bulgaria

---

Shipka Memorial Church, officially known as the Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ, is one of Bulgaria’s most iconic religious and historical landmarks.

Located near the town of Shipka in central Bulgaria, it was built between 1885 and 1902 to honor the Russian and Bulgarian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, which led to Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule. The church is famous for its striking Russian Revival architecture, featuring five golden onion domes, a tall bell tower, and richly decorated red-and-white façades. 

Inside, visitors can see beautiful frescoes, religious icons, marble memorial plaques bearing the names of fallen soldiers, and a crypt containing the remains of those who died in the battles around Shipka Pass. Surrounded by gardens and the scenic foothills of the Balkan Mountains, Shipka Memorial Church is both an active Orthodox church and a national monument.