The Sofia History Museum will host the first European Heritage Days in Bulgaria.

The festival starts on October 31 in Sofia's Central Bath building, which houses the Sofia History Museum, and is co-organised by Institut Francais. It will run till November 2.

It will consist of guided tours of Sofia landmarks – parks, gardens and buildings that are usually closed for the general public, such as banks, private residences and state buildings. The exhibitions, lectures, conferences and movie screenings will be taking place in the Institut Francais and the Sofia History Museum.

The free guided tours will start at 10 AM and 2 PM on November 1 and 2. of The tour of the Largo will start in front of the drinking fountain under the columns of the Central Department Store (TZUM), the tour of the former royal palace and the surrounding area – at the entrance of the National Art Gallery, of the “yellow brick road” - in front of the Sofia Information Centre in the underpass of the Sofia University metro station and the tour of the Borisova Gradina – in front of the Bulbank office at Eagle's Bridge (Orlov Most).

According to the organisers of the tours, the groups will be up to 25 people, but if there are many interested, the tours will continue through next week.

The European Heritage Days is a locally-led initiative which provides access to thousands of rarely opened sites and unique events to over 20 million people every year.

The initiative, which provides opportunities ranging from guided tours to open-air performances, takes place across Europe every year, usually in September, and is organised around a special theme, varying from country to country.

It is a joint initiative managed by the European Commission and the Council of Europe, in close coordination with national coordinators.