The Rivers of Sofia unites citizens, NGOs, institutions, and the private sector in reviving the city’s neglected rivers that have remained inaccessible since the 1940s and suffer from pollution.

Architectural interventions, festivals, and collaborative working groups transform the riverbanks into civic and cultural space for diverse groups.

The initiative restores the rivers’ connection to the city and reclaims a place for urban nature in Sofia. It has opened up civic and institutional dialogue about the waterways’ future and is sparking long-term change.

The Rivers of Sofia is a finalist in the 2022 European Bauhaus Prizes and won a 2022 European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award, the highest distinction for heritage in Europe. It has also won awards from Sofia Municipality.

Find out more information, including short videos and photos, here: