Uchilishte Slavyanovo
In the village of Slavyanovo, Bulgaria, an abandoned school has been slowly falling apart for years. Today, the building stands empty, a symbol of decline and demographic change.
It was once a boarding school for children with lung diseases. The clean air in the region was thought to help them heal.
Slavyanovo is a small village in northeastern Bulgaria. It first appears in Ottoman-Turkish documents from 1524 and 1541 under the name Kara Agach, meaning “elm tree.” In 1947, the village received its current name. Today, Slavyanovo has around 766 residents, most of them elderly. Young families moved away to larger cities in search of work and opportunities. This loss of people was one of the reasons the school had to close.
1,000 closed schools
The problem is not unique to Slavyanovo. In 2023, Bulgaria set a national record with more than 1,000 closed schools. It is a reflection of the country’s demographic crisis. Still, life continues in the village. Another small school remains active, teaching about 60 students up to 7th grade.
New role
The abandoned school has not been forgotten. Two Bulgarian architects, Boris Tikvarski and Bozhidara Valkova, are documenting schools like this one. Their goal is to give these empty spaces a new role in the community. The mayor of Slavyanovo, Altynay Eredzhebova, also sees potential. Ideas include turning the building into a children’s health clinic or a care home for the elderly.
But there is one issue. Legally, the building can only be used as a school. This special status blocks its sale or reuse. For the plans to move forward, changes in national regulations are needed.
Until then, the school remains abandoned, a silent reminder of the village’s past and a question mark for its future. Will it continue to decay, or will it become a place of care and life again? Only time, and politics, will tell.
