QSL No. 5: 1938 – Construction of the old building of the radio begins

In 2026, Radio Bulgaria is issuing a new series of 12 QSL cards to confirm listeners’ reception reports. Each card highlights a key historical moment from the history of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and the Radio Bulgaria programme. At the beginning of each month, a special publication shares interesting facts related to the images featured on the cards.

The fifth QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to the construction of the first independent building of the Bulgarian radio in Sofia, which today we call the "old building" of BNR - all the studios of the public radio are housed here.

After the radio became state-owned (January 25, 1935), its larger-scale development began. Financing was provided - for equipment, people and a larger "house". The construction of the new building of Radio Sofia at its current address – 4, Dragan Tsankov Boulevard - began in 1938 in the then villa area of ​​the capital, although the competition was announced earlier.

The Bulgarian National Radio has changed its home four times

The main construction was completed in 1941 according to a project by German architects. German company Telefunken equipped the new radio house with the most advanced technologies for the time. The new studios that opened in 1942 were considered the most modern in the Balkans.

The old building of the Bulgarian National Radio has a total area of ​​ 2300 sq. m. It was originally built on 3 floors in the style of Bulgarian architectural modernism - a strict building with colonnades in front.

In the 1950s, the building was upgraded with two more floors: in place of the sign "Radio Sofia" a fourth floor was built and above it - a cornice and another floor, which today hosts studios and offices. A photo from these years is shown on our fifth QSL card.

To receive a QSL card, listeners should send a reception report indicating the date and language (for Radio Bulgaria) or the date, time and frequency of the broadcast heard (for other BNR programmes), along with details of the programme content.

Reports can be sent via a channel convenient for you:
• by e-mail: reception.report@bnr.bg
• by mail to the following address: Bulgaria, Sofia, 1040, Dragan Tsankov Blvd. 4, BNR, Desislava Semkovska

It is mandatory to provide a postal address for feedback. We remind you that BNR also confirms reception reports with old series of QSL cards. If you wish to receive any of them, please indicate it in the report.

See also:

Our new QSL cards: 90 years BNR and 90 years Radio Bulgaria

From the mailbox of Radio Bulgaria – letters from around the world

QSL No. 4: 1935 – Sirak Skitnik, the first director of the BNR

QSL No. 3: 1930 – The first union of radio enthusiasts in Bulgaria

QSL No. 2: Commemorating Bulgaria’s first radio signal