Modern & monumentSofia & Western Bulgaria

Lions' Bridge in Sofia, the Bridge of the Four Bronze Lions

Lions' Bridge is a stone bridge over the Vladaya River in the centre of Sofia, built in 1889–1891 and named after its four bronze lions. It stands at the junction of Marie Louise Boulevard and Slivnitsa Boulevard, between the Central Railway Station and the city centre, and is a symbol of the Serdika district. It is an easy, free stop for anyone passing through the capital.

The bridge was meant to be the centrepiece of a vast memorial to the Bulgarian booksellers hanged by the Ottomans. Only the bridge was built, at a cost of 260,000 gold leva.

WhereCentre of Sofia, over the Vladaya River, where Marie Louise Boulevard meets Slivnitsa Boulevard

TypeStone road bridge from 1889–1891 with four bronze lions, now used by trams and pedestrians

Best forCity walkers, architecture and history fans, and travellers passing through the railway station

Getting thereLavov Most station on Sofia Metro line M2, plus tram and bus lines; about 1 km from several city-centre sites

The history of Lions' Bridge

Long before the present bridge, a bridge crossed the Vladaya River here. The earlier stone bridge was known as Sharen Most, the Motley Bridge, because it was painted in red and yellow stripes. Bulgarian tradition links it with Halil Sali Efendi, a wealthy man of Sofia, and tells a story of him buying up straw in a good harvest year and selling it dear in a bad one, then building the bridge with the line “I sold with time, I made a bridge”. The inscriptions have not survived. During the 2014 reconstruction of the square, archaeologists also found the foundations of a Roman bridge, along with coins and a customs seal from the time of Theodosius I, suggesting a bridge stood here as early as the second century CE.

Until the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 the spot was also used for executions. Among those hanged near the bridge were the April Uprising participants Stoycho Rashkov and Todor Maleev, and the youngest of the four Sofia booksellers, Georgi Stoitsev, a chanter at the church of St Nedelya. Right after the Liberation, Hristo G. Danov suggested a memorial to the hanged booksellers and revolutionaries here, and an ambitious design followed.

The project was drawn up by the Czech architect Václav Prošek and carried out in 1889–1891 by the Prošek brothers’ firm. It cost 260,000 gold leva, an enormous sum for the time. Of the whole grand scheme, which included a large circular square, only the bridge was built. It is 26 metres long and 18.1 metres wide, with two arches, granite parapets and candelabra-style lamps. Its four bronze lions were cast by the Viennese firm of Rudolph Philipp Waagner and set in place in 1891. According to the Bulgarian Wikipedia, the lions stand for the four hanged booksellers. The Prošeks built the similar Eagles’ Bridge at about the same time.

The first tram line in Sofia, opened on 1 January 1901, crossed the bridge, linking the Central Railway Station with today’s Slaveykov Square, and hotels sprang up along the boulevard in the following years. The Lavov Most metro station opened in 2012, and in 2014 the junction was rebuilt as a two-level interchange, leaving the bridge for trams and pedestrians. Of the original memorial plan, only a plaque to Georgi Stoitsev remains, standing beside the bridge.

Curious facts about Lions' Bridge

The bronze lions have no tongues, a detail often noticed by visitors.
One of the lions appears on the reverse of the Bulgarian 20 lev banknote, issued in 1999 and 2007.
The 2014 works uncovered the foundations of a Roman bridge, plus coins and a customs seal from the time of Theodosius I.
Lions' Bridge cost 260,000 gold leva to build, while the similar Eagles' Bridge cost only 80,000.
The earlier Motley Bridge got its name from its red and yellow stripes, and a local story connects it with a man who “sold with time” and built a bridge.
The lions and the bridge were made as part of a grand memorial plan to the four Bulgarian booksellers hanged by the Ottomans, but only the bridge was ever built.

Tours near Lions' Bridge

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Half Day Tour around Sofia and the mountains with Thermal Spa

★ 5 (47 reviews) · 6 h

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ATV Off Road Tour Near Sofia Guided Quad Bike Experience

★ 5 (28 reviews) · 1.5 h

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Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery small group tour with pickup

★ 5 (27 reviews) · 9 h

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Full-day Rila Monastery, Stob Pyramids and St Ivan Rilski Cave from Sofia

★ 5 (24 reviews) · 6 h

See details ›

Visiting Lions' Bridge: what to expect

The bridge is a public street structure that can be seen at any time; since 2014 it is reserved for trams and pedestrians.
Look for the four bronze lions on their pedestals, the granite parapets and the candelabra-style lamps.
A memorial plaque to the bookseller Georgi Stoitsev stands beside the bridge, outside the main ensemble.
The junction is busy and lies between the Central Railway Station and the city centre, so it works well as a short stop on arrival or departure.
The Amphitheatre of Serdica, the Georgi Dimitrov Mausoleum and the Monument to the Tsar Liberator are all about 1 km away.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Lions' Bridge is

Photos of Lions' Bridge

Questions

What is Lions' Bridge in Sofia?

Lions' Bridge is a stone bridge over the Vladaya River in the centre of Sofia, built in 1889–1891. It is named after its four bronze lions and is a symbol of the Serdika district.

Where is Lions' Bridge and how do you get there?

It stands at the junction of Marie Louise Boulevard and Slivnitsa Boulevard in central Sofia. Lavov Most station on Metro line M2 serves it, as do tram and bus lines.

Who built Lions' Bridge?

It was designed by the Czech architect Václav Prošek and built by the Prošek family firm in 1889–1891. The bronze lions come from the Viennese firm of Rudolph Philipp Waagner.

Why does the bridge have lions?

The lions give the bridge its name. According to the Bulgarian Wikipedia they symbolise the four Bulgarian booksellers hanged by the Ottomans, for whom a large memorial was planned.

Can cars still cross Lions' Bridge?

No. After the 2014 reconstruction the bridge is reserved for trams and pedestrians.

What else is worth seeing near Lions' Bridge?

The Amphitheatre of Serdica, the Georgi Dimitrov Mausoleum, the Monument to the Tsar Liberator and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier are each about 1 km away.