# Timeline of Varna

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.
* 1st century CE – Romans in power.
* 1201 – Siege of Varna (1201) by forces of Kaloyan of Bulgaria.
* 1389 – Ottoman Turks in power.
* 1444 – 10 November: Battle of Varna.
* 1606 – Varna sacked by Cossacks.
* 1828 – Siege of Varna.
* 1854 – During Crimean War, allied forces based temporarily at Varna.
* 1867 – Rustchuk–Varna railway begins operating.
* 1870 – Seat of a Bulgarian Bishop.
* 1871 – Slavic Orthodox Christian Eparchy of Varna and Veliki [it] established.
* 1878 – Varna becomes part of newly restored independent Bulgaria per Treaty of Berlin (1878)
* 1883 – Orient Express railway begins operating.
* 1885 – Euxinograd palace built near Varna.
* 1886 – Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral, Varna built.
* 1888
** Varna Archaeological Museum founded.
** Population: 25,256.
* 1892 – Bulgarian Steamship Company in business.
* 1900 – Machine School for the Navy relocated to Varna.

## 20th century

* 1906
** Port of Varna built.
** Population: 37,155.
* 1912 – Alexander Vasilev (mayor) [bg] becomes mayor.
* 1913 – Reka Ticha sport club formed.
* 1915 – 27 October: Varna bombed by Russian forces.
* 1916 – 16 January: Varna bombed by Russian forces.
* 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.
* 1932 – Varna Aquarium opens.
* 1934
** Radio Varna [bg] begins broadcasting.
** City becomes capital of Varna oblast.
* 1935
** Symbolic mausoleum of King Władysław III of Poland erected.
** Yanko Mustakov [bg] becomes mayor.
* 1946 – Population: 77,792.
* 1949
** Varna renamed "Stalin."
** City becomes capital of the Stalin District.
* 1950 – Yuri Gagarin Stadium opens.
* 1957 – In vicinity of Varna, Golden Sands resort development begins.
* 1961
** Institute of Medicine established.
** Sea Garden (Varna) remodelled.
* 1962 – 15th Chess Olympiad held in Varna.
* 1964
** Varna International Ballet Competition begins.
** Population: 172,700.
** John Hunyadi monument unveiled.
* 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.
* 1993 – Population: 307,200 city; 313,034 urban agglomeration (estimate).
* 1994 – McDonald's in business.
* 1998 – Black Sea NGO Network headquartered in Varna.

## 21st century

* 2001
** Varna co-hosts the 2001 Women's European Volleyball Championship.
** Population: 314,539.
* 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.
** Air pollution in Varna reaches annual mean of 36 PM2.5 and 51 PM10, more than recommended.
** Ivan Portnih becomes mayor.
* 2014 – June: 2014 Bulgarian floods.
* 2018 – Varna co-hosts the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
* 2021 – Varna hosts the 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships.