Timeline of Varna

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The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Varna, Bulgaria.

Prior to 20th century

• 6th century BCE – Odessus founded by Greeks.^[1]
• 1st century CE – Romans in power.^[1]
• 1201 – Siege of Varna (1201) by forces of Kaloyan of Bulgaria.
• 1389 – Ottoman Turks in power.^[2]

Battle of Varna, 19th-century painting by Jan Matejko

• 1444 – 10 November: Battle of Varna.^[3]
• 1606 – Varna sacked by Cossacks.^[4]
• 1828 – Siege of Varna.^[3]
• 1854 – During Crimean War, allied forces based temporarily at Varna.^[3]
• 1867 – Rustchuk–Varna railway begins operating.^[5]
• 1870 – Seat of a Bulgarian Bishop.^[5]
• 1871 – Slavic Orthodox Christian Eparchy of Varna and Veliki [it] established.^[6]
• 1878 – Varna becomes part of newly restored independent Bulgaria per Treaty of Berlin (1878)^[3][5]
• 1883 – Orient Express railway begins operating.^{[citation needed]}
• 1885 – Euxinograd palace built near Varna.
• 1886 – Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, Varna built.
• 1888
  • Varna Archaeological Museum founded.
  • Population: 25,256.^[3]
• 1892 – Bulgarian Steamship Company in business.
• 1900 – Machine School for the Navy relocated to Varna.

20th century

• 1906
  • Port of Varna built.^[3]
  • Population: 37,155.^[5]
• 1912 – Alexander Vasilev (mayor) [bg] becomes mayor.
• 1913 – Reka Ticha sport club formed.
• 1915 – 27 October: Varna bombed by Russian forces.^[7][8]
• 1916 – 16 January: Varna bombed by Russian forces.^[7]
• 1918 – SC Sokol (football club) formed.
• 1921 – Stoyan Bachvarov Dramatic Theatre founded.
• 1923 – BC Cherno More basketball team founded.
• 1925 – Varna railway station opens.
• 1931 – Freedom begins publication.^{[citation needed]}
• 1932 – Varna Aquarium opens.^[9]
• 1934
  • Radio Varna [bg] begins broadcasting.
  • City becomes capital of Varna oblast.^[1]
• 1935
  • Symbolic mausoleum of King Władysław III of Poland erected.^[10]
  • Yanko Mustakov [bg] becomes mayor.
• 1946 – Population: 77,792.^[1]
• 1949
  • Varna renamed "Stalin."^[1]
  • City becomes capital of the Stalin District.^[1]
• 1950 – Yuri Gagarin Stadium opens.
• 1957 – In vicinity of Varna, Golden Sands resort development begins.
• 1961
  • Institute of Medicine established.^[11]
  • Sea Garden (Varna) remodelled.
• 1962 – 15th Chess Olympiad held in Varna.
• 1964
  • Varna International Ballet Competition begins.^[12]
  • Population: 172,700.^[13]
  • John Hunyadi monument unveiled.^[10]

Varna in 1968

• 1968 – Ticha Stadium and Palace of Culture and Sports open.
• 1970 – Varna co-hosts the 1970 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship.
• 1972 – Varna Necropolis discovered.
• 1974 – Varna hosts the 1974 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
• 1976 – Asparuhov Bridge opens.
• 1979 – Varna hosts the 1979 European Weightlifting Championships.
• 1981 – Varna co-hosts the 1981 Men's European Volleyball Championship.
• 1985
  • Museum of Medicine History opened.
  • BC Cherno More wins its first Bulgarian basketball championship.
• 1986 – Trolleybuses begin operating.
• 1991 – Hristo Borisov Hall (sport arena) opens.^{[citation needed]}
• 1993 – Population: 307,200 city; 313,034 urban agglomeration (estimate).^[14]
• 1994 – McDonald's in business.^[15]
• 1998 – Black Sea NGO Network headquartered in Varna.

21st century

• 2001
  • Varna co-hosts the 2001 Women's European Volleyball Championship.
  • Population: 314,539.^[16]
• 2008
  • Mall Varna (shopping centre) in business.
  • New Varna Stadium construction begins.
• 2011 – Population: 343,704 municipality.
• 2013
  • 2013 Bulgarian protests against the first Borisov cabinet.
  • 2013–14 Bulgarian protests against the Oresharski cabinet.^[2]
  • Air pollution in Varna reaches annual mean of 36 PM2.5 and 51 PM10, more than recommended.^[17]
  • Ivan Portnih becomes mayor.
• 2014 – June: 2014 Bulgarian floods.^[18]
• 2018 – Varna co-hosts the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
• 2021 – Varna hosts the 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships.

See also

• Varna history
• History of Varna [bg]
• List of mayors of Varna
• List of oldest buildings in Varna
• Timelines of other cities in Bulgaria: Plovdiv, Sofia