Determinanty polsko-bułgarskich i bułgarsko-polskich kontaktów kulturalno-naukowych
Determinants of the Polish-Bulgarian and Bulgarian-Polish Cultural and Scientific Contacts

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the factors which have contributed to the establishment of mutual contacts between Poles and Bulgarians in the fields of culture and science. The aim was to present a few selected characters from the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, belonging to Polish and Bulgarian history (Bronislaw Theodore Grabowski, Witold Piekarski, Nora Walicka-Bucewiczowa; Stanko Karadzhov, Boyan Penev), who have contributed to this cooperation. Basing on that, the author indicates that during the first phase of such contacts, Bulgaria was as an example of effective libertarian aspirations for the Poles. In given historical circumstances, Polish interest in Bulgaria has evolved and developed in the direction of seeking support for Polish independence. Bearing in mind that at that time Poland was under occupation from Russia, Prussia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bulgaria had become an optimistic example proving that it was still possible to regain independence even after centuries of occupation. However, mutual cooperation was overshadowed by Russian interests in Bulgaria. Russia was trying to maintain its influence in the Balkans and, among others, was using Poles as its agents (for example W. Piekarski). The good example of the effectiveness of such a policy was the “Bulgarian adventure” of Nora Walicka-Bucewiczowa. From the Bulgarian perspective the development of bilateral contacts was driven by fascination with Polish literature and culture, which would lead in the future to the establishment of cooperation in the fields of science and culture.

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