Pleven Panorama
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Pleven Epopee 1877, more commonly known as Pleven Panorama, is a panorama located in Pleven, Bulgaria, depicting the events of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–78, specifically the five-month Siege of Pleven (Pleven Epopee) which made the city internationally famous and which contributed to the Liberation of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman rule. Pleven's Epopee 1877 is one of the most recognizable symbols of the town of Pleven.
The panorama was created by 11 Russian and two Bulgarian artists and combines painting, plastics and architecture. It was constructed in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Pleven Epopee and was officially unveiled on 10 December 1977. It is one of the largest panoramas in the world.
The panorama expanded the already existing Skobelev Park, which is located on the site where the battle took place.
[edit] Composition
The architectural unit is composed of four rooms: introductory, panoramic, diorame and finale. The six canvases of the introductory room discover the tragic destiny of the people, their dramatic fight and their compassion to the fellow Russian soldiers.
The combination of the canvas (115 x 15 m), the foreground (12 m) and the illumination creates a feeling of authenticity and empathy to the battle fought on 11 September 1877. The spectator is in the middle of the battlefield, surrounded by an attacking Russian regiment, smoking shells, a doctor and a nurse, the attack of the Turkish cavalry, burning fires in the city, and the Russian General Mikhail Skobelev conducting an attack against the Ottoman fortification.
[edit] Tourism
The Pleven Panorama is a touristic and historical point of interest. In the first three years after its opening, 2.5 million people visited the panorama. The monument is one of about 140 built by the people of Pleven in tribute to the battle and to the nearly 35,000 lives lost. It is considered by many to be the most attractive of these monuments.
