Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum

The Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum is a restored version of the stone house where the athlete spent his childhood and youth in Bulgaria. The residence in Mestanlı, Momchilgrad, where Naim Süleymanoğlu grew up, has been prepared to open as a memorial museum following restoration and refurbishment efforts. Through initiatives led by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the building has been reconfigured to serve as a space of memory, preserving its physical fabric and incorporating curated content that reflects key phases of Süleymanoğlu’s life.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (AA)

Transformation Process

The restoration and museum preparation process was initiated by TİKA in 2021. As part of this effort, personal belongings, awards, plaques, and memorabilia were collected through consultations with family members and close associates. Works were carried out to restore the building to its original state, including uncovering the stone structure, replacing doors and windows, and reconfiguring flooring and ceilings. Exhibition and display elements prepared in Türkiye were installed in the building in 2024, completing the project within the designated timeframe.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (AA)

Inauguration and Institutional Participation

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that the official opening of the transformed residence in Mestanlı would take place on 18 November 2025.

Post from Mehmet Nuri Ersoy’s social media account (Social)

The inauguration ceremony on 18 November was conducted by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, TİKA President and KÜME Foundation Board Chairman Abdullah Eren.

Inauguration ceremony of the Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (GSB)

The building is described as bearing traces of past hardships, pride, and collective memory. The official opening of the house in Momchilgrad coincided with the eighth anniversary of Süleymanoğlu’s death. The event drew significant participation from Bulgarian citizens and Turkish diaspora associations from Türkiye. As part of the same initiative, the opening of the Kırcaali Central Mosque was also held.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (AA)

Architectural Features and Restoration Details

The structure in Mestanlı is a two-story stone house covering a total enclosed area of 104 square meters and a courtyard of 390 square meters. A transformer building obstructing the view in the garden was removed, and non-original plaster on the exterior façade was stripped away to reveal the original stone texture.

The ground floor has been arranged as an ethnographic space reflecting family life. Original family belongings, period-appropriate household items, silicone statues representing his mother Hatice Hanım, his father Süleyman Bey, and their three children, along with a hearth, kilim, sedir, kitchen utensils, and artifacts of village life, are displayed in this section.

The upper floor is divided into two distinct rooms, each representing two phases of the athlete’s sporting life. The Bulgarian period section features medals and documents, his elementary school backpack, materials from the early years of his athletic career, and a screen presenting his life story in his own words. Additionally, a dedicated area called “Toy Naim” has been created for child visitors. The Türkiye period section displays a silicone statue, medals won after his migration, training equipment he used, replica Olympic medals, and the State Superior Service Certificate.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (AA)

Thematic Concept of the Museum

The overall theme of the museum is to portray Naim Süleymanoğlu’s life journey between two countries, encompassing both personal and athletic dimensions. Visitors are intended to experience his childhood and youth in Bulgaria and his subsequent athletic career in Türkiye as two distinct main sections. The design successfully integrates the function of a memorial house with the transmission of witness testimony through documents and artifacts.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (AA)

Events and Regional Participation

The opening in Momchilgrad is planned to attract broad participation. It has been reported that communities of Bulgarian origin residing in Bulgaria or Türkiye have shown interest in attending the opening. Migrant associations are noted to have provided support in terms of transportation and organization.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum (AA)