Hristo Smirnenski Primary School
In a quiet village in the Bulgarian countryside stands an old, abandoned school. The building is empty now. Nature is slowly taking over.
Many years ago, this was a place full of life and young voices. The school was named after Hristo Dimitrov Izmirliev, better known as Hristo Smirnenski. His portrait hangs on the wall in the central hall of the school building, and his photo is also visible in various classrooms.
He was a famous Bulgarian poet and writer. Born in 1898, Smirnenski wrote many stories and poems. His style was warm and full of feeling. He believed in social justice and was a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Smirnenski died very young, at only 24 years old. But in his short life, he wrote many important works that are still remembered today.
Inside the school, time has stopped. Old desks and chairs are still in the classrooms. Some walls have peeling paint, while others show drawings made by students. The chalkboard still hangs on the wall, a last memory of the lessons once given here. In one room, a broken radio rests in the corner. You can almost hear the music that once filled the air.
The school was once the heart of the village. Children from the area came here every day to learn, play, and grow. Now, only silence remains. Windows are broken, and the roof lets in rain and snow. Yet, the spirit of the place is still strong. You feel the past as you walk through the empty halls.
Today, it stands forgotten. I visited the school in 2022.
