The Radetzky Steamship National Museum is a replica of the steamer that in 1876 carried Hristo Botev’s band to the shore at Kozloduy. The ship lies on the Danube bank in Kozloduy, at 82 Hristo Botev Street. It is a branch of the National History Museum and one of the 100 National Tourist Sites.
The exhibition of belongings of Botev and his men is in the ship’s first-class saloon. The monument to Hristo Botev and his band is nearby.
Every year on 29 June, Danube Day, the ship sails for one hour.
The original Radetzky was an Austro-Hungarian passenger steamer built in 1851 at Óbuda and named after Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky. On 16–17 May 1876 Botev and his men boarded it disguised as passengers and forced Captain Dagobert Englaender to land near Kozloduy. The steamer was scrapped in 1924.
A replica was built in 1964–1966 at the Ruse shipyard with donations from schoolchildren and workers, from old drawings, photographs and the memories of a painter from the original ship. It was declared a museum on 30 May 1966. After repairs in 1988–1994 the steam engine was replaced by a diesel engine.
Accessibility: the ship is not wheelchair accessible.
Montana region
12.4 km away
Vratsa region
31.4 km away
Radetzky Steamship National Museum is located in Vratsa, Bulgaria.
Radetzky Steamship National Museum is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Radetzky Steamship National Museum can be visited year-round. Verify current opening hours directly with the museum before your visit, as schedules change seasonally and on public holidays.
Opening hours and admission fees vary, and most Bulgarian museums close one day per week (commonly Monday). Verify current schedules and prices directly with the museum or the local tourist information office before visiting Radetzky Steamship National Museum, especially on public holidays.
