Maria Luiza Boulevard (Bulgarian: Булевард Мария Луиза), also called Maria Luiza, which is the Bulgarian transliteration of Marie Louise, is a central boulevard in Sofia. It connects Central Railway Station and Vitosha Boulevard which is its continuation to the National Palace of Culture. The boulevard passes over one of the city's most emblematic bridges, Lavov Most (meaning Lion's Bridge). It is named after Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, princess-consort of Bulgaria and wife to Ferdinand I. During communist period the boulevard was named after Georgi Dimitrov.
Many landmarks are situated on the Marie Louise Boulevard or in the vicinity. On the boulevard itself are located the Central Sofia Market Hall, TZUM, St Nedelya Church, Banya Bashi Mosque and one of Sofia's largest hotels Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan. Close to Marie Louise are administrative and governmental edifices such as the Presidency, the Counsel of Ministers, the offices of the deputies (which form the Largo), the yellow-paved Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square and others. The newly opened Knyaginya Maria Luiza Metro Station is located on the road.
Coordinates: 42°42′5.92″N 23°19′22.25″E / 42.7016444°N 23.3228472°E / 42.7016444; 23.3228472
Famous quotes containing the words marie louise, marie, louise and/or boulevard:
“Take hope from the heart of man and you make him a beast of prey.”
—Ouida [Marie Louise De La Ramée] (1839–1908)
“They give us a pair of cloth shorts twice a year for all our clothing. When we work in the sugar mills and catch our finger in the millstone, they cut off our hand; when we try to run away, they cut off our leg: both things have happened to me. It is at this price that you eat sugar in Europe.”
—Voltaire [François Marie Arouet] (1694–1778)
“I love meetings with suits. I live for meetings with suits. I love them because I know they had a really boring week and I walk in there with my orange velvet leggings and drop popcorn in my cleavage and then fish it out and eat it. I like that. I know I’m entertaining them and I know that they know. Obviously, the best meetings are with suits that are intelligent, because then things are operating on a whole other level.”
—Madonna [Madonna Louise Ciccione] (b. 1959)
“Arrive in the afternoon, the late light slanting
In diluted gold bars across the boulevard brag
Of proud, seamed faces with mercy and murder hinting
here, there, interrupting, all deep and debonair,
The pink paint on the innocence of fear;
Walk in a gingerly manner up the hall.”
—Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)