The city of Ruse has 162,128 inhabitants, it is located at an altitude of 50 m above sea level, on the high right bank of the Danube River. The town of Ruse is located 320 km away. northeast of Sofia, 203 km. northwest of Varna, 106 km. northeast of Veliko Tarnovo, 146 km. northeast of Pleven, 97 km. northeast of Svishtov, 122 km. south-west of Silistra, 66 km. northwest of Razgrda. The largest city in the Bulgarian section of the Danube River, a well-known administrative center. The fifth most populous city in Bulgaria.
Ruse is a city with a 23-century history, which begins with the creation of a Thracian settlement, whose successor in Roman times became the Sexaginta Prista castel / "port of 60 ships" /. It arises during the reign of the Roman emperor Vespasin, 69-70 g. Later the city is known under the names of Pristis and Pristapolis, existed until the 6th century. The importance of Sexagint Priest was very important, as the transportation of food and weapons was carried out along the river. Later the fortress was destroyed by the Avars` and Slavs in the VI century. For the first time the name of the city under the name of Ruse was found in a 16th century guidebook In the register of the Sultan in 1431 and in the peace treaty between the Turkish Empire and Hungary on August 20, 1503, the city was mentioned under the name of Ruse. The city was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1388. During the Ottoman rule, the city was renamed Ruschuk. In the 18th century it was turned into a large fortress, part of the fortification of Ruse-Shumen-Varna-Silistra. The city of Ruse became one of the largest Danube Ottoman cities and in the 19th century was chosen as the administrative center of the Danube Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire, stretching from Varna and Tulcea to Sofia and Niš.
In 1866 the first railway was built on the Bulgarian lands Ruschuk-Varna. The printer was opened, the cars were brought from Vienna. Newspapers, books and manuals were published. Thanks to the active river transport along the Danube River, mainly Austro-Hungarian ships, European influence penetrated into Ruse, which had a positive impact on the development of the city. The architecture of private and public buildings was reminiscent of the architecture of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The European way of dressing came here earlier than other cities in Bulgaria. On January 1, 1866, for the first time in Bulgaria, meteorological observations began there, using modern equipment from Austria.
Ruse is one of the largest centers of the Bulgarian Revival and an important center of the Bulgarian national liberation movement. The Ruse Revolutionary Committee was twice designated as central to the territory of Bulgaria. The liberation struggle in Ruse is associated with the names of Baba Tonka, Nikola Obretenov, Angel Kynchev, Zakhari Stoyanov, Georgi Ikonomov, Illarion Dragostinov and others. The Pantheon to those who perished with an eternal flame was opened in Ruse in 1979.
The modern history of Ruse begins on February 20, 1878, when Russian troops under the command of General Totleben entered the city and put an end to the five-century Ottoman rule. After the liberation, the city of Ruse was one of the leading Bulgarian economic and cultural centers, the seat of the Bulgarian navigation on the Danube. Intensive construction changes its architectural appearance and brings it closer to Central European cities. For several decades, the city became the entrance gate of Europe to Bulgaria. It is no coincidence that during this period the city of Ruse was the pioneer of a number of innovations: the first pharmacy was opened, in 1867 the first railway line was built in today's Bulgaria; the first metal ship was built in 1881; in the same year the first private bank "Girdap" was opened, the first insurance company and the first maritime school, which moved to Varna in 1900, in 1883 the first meteorological station was opened, and in 1897 the first film projection.
A new impetus in the development of Ruse was the construction of the "Bridge of Friendship" between Bulgarians and Romanians in 1954, the rapid industrialization of the city began. Ruse is again becoming a large economic, transport, cultural and educational center. At the time of the recount of the population of Bulgaria in 1985, there were more than 186,000 people. At the beginning of the 80s, a difficult period in its history began in Ruse. A chemical plant “Verahim” was built in Gürgevo / Romania /, which has been polluting the air in Ruse for almost ten years. This influenced the development of the city, its population decreased. The process of air pollution was stopped only in 1989, from this period democratic changes began in Bulgaria. Today Ruse is one of the largest Bulgarian cities with a population of 170,000 and one of the main economic and cultural centers of Northern Bulgaria.
Cultural and natural attractions of the city: The city of Ruse is one of the 100 national tourist sites / House-Museum “Zhari Stoyanov” and the Pantheon of the Revivalists /. There are many surviving buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries that give it a unique atmosphere. Most of them are cultural monuments Among the sights of the city stand out: Church "Holy Trinity / 1764 /; Freedom Monument, 1908/1911, sculptor Arnaldo Zoki; Monument to those killed in the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885, 1902, architect. N. Lazarov, J. Spiridonov; Fleet tower, 1885, architect. Friedrich Grunanger; Profitable building / Profitable building / with a winged Mercury on the roof, which houses the city theater and other cultural institutions, 1902, architect. Raoul-Paul-Branck, Georg Lang and Frank Stolz; TV tower / 210 m /, the highest in Bulgaria / the height of the TV tower in Sofia in the Kopitoto area is 108 m /, and some even believe that it is the tallest in the Balkans, built in 1976; Home of the writer Elias Kaneti, winner of the 1981 Nobel Prize; The Revival Pantheon, where the bones of prominent people of the Bulgarian national liberation movement are kept / Lyuben Karavelov, Stefan Karadzha, Angel Kynchev, Zakhari Stoyanov, Panayot Volov, Baba Tonka, Nikola Obretenov, etc. /; The first railway station in Bulgaria, built in 1866.
There is also a university in Ruse.
In Ruse there is a wonderful hotel "Riga", a magnificent hotel "Danube", a hotel "Jordan Petrov", the House of Officers, a motel "Paradise", a camp.
The railway and river services support the internal and external connections of the city. There is a regular bus to Sofia, Varna, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Shumen, Razgrad, Torgovishte and other towns and villages of the country. Ruse is a connecting station of two railway lines Ruse-Gorna Oryahovitsa, Stara Zagora, Podkova and Ruse-Kaspichan-Varna.
Ruse has a very large river port on the Danube. Since 1992, the movement of passenger transport on the Bulgarian section of the Danube has been interrupted, and its restoration is pending. Cruises are made only on the international routes Ruse-Belgrade-Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Linz-Passau, there are Bulgarian tourists, but mostly foreign. There is a ferry service with Romania, Ruse-Gyurgevo. The city has bus and trolleybus transport.
Western Park "Prista" is located at a distance of 6 km. from Ruse, stretches along the road to the town of Byala. There are excellent conditions for sports and recreation. Tourists can also visit the island on the Danube. The Forest Park also offers excellent conditions for recreation, sports and entertainment.
Obraztsov Chiflik is located at a distance of 3-4 km. from the park, where the land is very fertile, there are many vineyards.
The valley of the Rusenski Lom river and its tributaries Beliy Lom, Maly Lom and Cherny Lom is unique in its essence. Nature is surprisingly intertwined with history. This natural park is at a distance of 20 km. from Ruse, the rivers formed beautiful gorges there, the rocky shores are made of limestone - a delight for the eyes and for climbers.
One of the most significant military, economic and cultural centers of Bulgaria in the 13-14th century is the town of Cherven Bryag, located on the Cherni Lom River. It is located 31 km. from Rousse. There are preserved parts of the fortification walls, a defensive tower, a gate, a castle, churches, houses of the nobility, which are unique in themselves with their vaulted staircases, etc. There is a permanent transport linking this town with the town of Ruse.
In the valley, many monks took refuge in the Middle Ages. There was a complex of monasteries with churches, some of which have been preserved. The churches are decorated with paintings by Ivanovsky, the master of the Tarnovo school. In 1983 they were included in the list of cultural heritage protected by UNESCO.
The Danube River offers great opportunities for entertainment, water sports, tourism and fishing. There are wonderful places like the islands of Lyulyak and Mateya. There are excellent accommodation options.
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About the city of Ruse
Ruse is an important transport, economic and cultural center in Northern Bulgaria. Ruse is the fifth largest Bulgarian city after Varna, with a population (according to 2011) of 149 642 inhabitants.
Two bridges built in the city over the Danube connect Bulgaria with Romania. The construction of the second bridge was completed in 2013. The city is located on the largest transport artery in Europe - the Danube River and at the crossroads of other important transport corridors. The main European roads E70 and E85 pass through the city. The Danube River connects the city with 10 Danube countries.
Ruse is often called Little Vienna because of the large number of architectural monuments built in various styles - neo-baroque, neoclassicism, modern, secession.
The Consulate General of Russia and the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine are located in Ruse. Ruse is twinned with the Russian city of Volgograd and the Ukrainian city of Simferopol.
Ruse Map
Story
Ruse is a city with a 20-century history. Initially, the Thracians settled on the territory of the city, and later the Romans. In the 1st century. AD Emperor Vespasian built the fortress Sexaginta Prista, which means “port of 60 ships”.
During the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms, there was a fortified settlement named Ruse on the Danube bank, but in 1388 the city was captured by the Turks.
During the Turkish rule the city was renamed Ruschuk (bulgarian Ruschuk). Due to its geographical location, the city is gradually turning into one of the most developed and large Ottoman cities. In the 30s of the 19th century. several foreign consulates were opened, the first modern printing house appeared in the middle of the century, the first telegraph line was completed, railway station. line (-Ruse) and other innovations.
During the Bulgarian Revival, Ruse became an important center of the Bulgarian national liberation movement.
Modern history
On February 20, 1878, the Russian troops of General Totleben liberated the city from the 5-century Turkish yoke. After the liberation, Ruse developed rapidly and became the largest city in the Principality. Intensive construction changes the architectural appearance of the city and brings it closer to the European one. In the period 1878-1944, 416 industrial enterprises were established in Ruse. The city is becoming a pioneer in a number of innovations. For example, the Danube Flotilla, the first private bank, was created, the first meteorological station was built, the First Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce was established, the first Bulgarian furniture factory was created, the first insurance company was built, the first oil refinery was built, and much more.
A new round of development of the city falls on the middle of the 50s of the 20th century. In 1954, a bridge was built across the Danube, linking Bulgaria and Romania. Ruse is again becoming a major economic, transport, cultural and educational center. Mechanical engineering, chemical and light industries are developing dynamically. A large port has been built and the University of Ruse opens its doors.
However, in the 80s, a chemical plant was built near Ruse, which polluted the city's air for many years, which led to large migration in the late 80s.
In the 90s of the last century, the economic crisis in Bulgaria affected the development of Ruse. Many factories are closing and the population is migrating. After 2000, the city gradually begins to regain its position.
Ruse today
Today Ruse is a large Bulgarian industrial center. One of the first industrial parks in Bulgaria is developing in the city. Ruse is also home to the largest Free Zone with an area of 370,235 sq. M.
The modern economy of the city is dominated by light industry - tailoring, textiles and food processing. The chemical industry is highly developed (such large Bulgarian companies as Prista Oil, Ekon, Megahim, etc. operate). Machine building, electronic industry, and furniture production are also well developed. The Ruse shipyard is also located on the territory of the city.
There are major supermarket chains and shopping centers in the city.
Ruse from a bird's eye view
sights
Ruse is known for its beautiful buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century, which give it a unique atmosphere. It is not for nothing that in 2009 he was awarded the title of the most beautiful city in Bulgaria. Among the buildings, there are 260 architectural monuments located mainly in the city center. Some of the attractions are included in the list of the Hundred National Sites. Rousse and nominee for the 2019 European Capital of Culture Prize.
The main symbol of the city can be called Monument to Freedom, built at the beginning of the 20th in the Italian sculpture by Arnoldo Tsoki and representing the figure of a woman who holds a sword in her left hand and points in the direction from which the liberators came with her right.
Profitable building- Drama theater, symbolizes the period of the Bulgarian Renaissance and is a cultural monument.
The building of the first private bank in Bulgaria "Girdap", built in 1881. Now the building houses the Accounts Chamber.
Known as Old town center is a square between several beautiful Baroque buildings. These include the Lyuben Karavelov library and the Simeonov Brothers' bank (today the DSK bank).
The building of the first insurance company "Bulgaria" was built in the neoclassic style in 1891.
The cultural monument of national importance also includes „ Old Music Gymnasium ”, built in 1900-1901 The building is made in a combination of neoclassicism and neo-gothic.
The oldest building in Ruse is the cathedral church "St. Trinity", built in 1632
There are several museums on the territory of Ruse. Among them - one of a kind Transport Museum located in the building of the first railway station in Bulgaria, built in 1866.
The Ivanovo rock churches are located 18 km south of Ruse. Murals church “St. Mother of God " are striking examples of Palaeologus art and are under the protection of UNESCO.
There is a functioning and Regional History Museum, whose fund includes 130,000 cultural monuments.
The city is surrounded by two natural parks - Rusenski and Lipnik Forest Park, the latter is considered the largest forest park in Bulgaria. Not far from the city is the second longest Orlova Chuka cave(13 437 m.)
Statue of Liberty
Old town center
Virtual walk in Ruse
Ruse (Bulgaria) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Ruse with descriptions, guides and maps.
Ruse town (Bulgaria)
Ruse is a city in northern Bulgaria. It is famous for its beautiful Baroque buildings, thanks to which it received the nickname "Bulgarian Vienna". Ruse is the fifth largest city in the country and the largest river port, as well as a significant economic, financial and cultural center.
Practical information
- Population - 159 thousand people.
- The area is 127,124 km².
- Currency - Bulgarian lev.
- Language - Bulgarian.
- Time - UTC +2, in summer +3.
Story
Ruse was founded about 2,000 years ago. In the 1st century A.D. the Romans built a fortified settlement and a river port here. The fortress was an important strategic point on the road leading to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. In the middle of the 3rd century, the Roman settlement was destroyed by the Goths. Then the Romans restored the defensive structure, which was destroyed by the Thracian tribes in the 4th century. In the 9th - 10th centuries, on the Roman ruins, the Bulgarians built a new fortress and named it Ruse.
In the 14th century, Ruse was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and renamed Ruschuk. The Ottomans built a powerful fortress here, which was an important outpost on the lands between the Danube Valley and the Balkans. All Ruschuk's fortifications were destroyed in the 19th century. Ruse was annexed to Bulgaria after the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78. and regained its historical name.
sights
The historic center of Ruse is famous for its beautiful neo-baroque buildings, built in the 19th - early 20th century.
It is better to start exploring the city center from Freedom Square - the largest and most beautiful square in Ruse. The architectural dominance here is the Freedom Monument, which depicts a female figure holding a sword in her left hand, and with her right hand indicating the direction from which the liberators came. There are two lions at the base of the monument. One breaks the chains of slavery, while the other protects the freedom of Bulgaria. The statue was made in 1909 by the Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi.
The apartment building is a magnificent neo-baroque building that dominates the western end of Svoboda Square. It was built in 1902 by Viennese architects and was used as a theater, casino, public library, art gallery and shopping center.
Nearby is the neoclassical courthouse, which was built in 1940 on the site of an old fish market. To its left is the vibrant opera house, built in 1949.
From Freedom Square, you should go to Aleksandrovskaya Street, where beautiful neo-baroque buildings of the 19th century and a historical museum are located. The Historical Museum contains exhibits from the Roman period, Thracian culture, the Middle Ages and modern Bulgarian history.
A few minutes walk from the center of Ruse, on a hill above the Danube, are the ruins of the Roman fortress Sexaginta Prista, founded in the 1st century AD. Parts of the northern fortress wall, rectangular defensive tower and army barracks have survived to this day. Archaeological excavations have also found traces of a Thracian settlement of the 1st century BC.
The Pantheon of National Heroes is a memorial complex containing the remains of 453 Bulgarian national revival fighters, many of whom were natives of Ruse. The memorial was opened in 1978 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria.
The Church of the Holy Trinity is a small religious building, built in 1632. It is interesting that the church was built in the Ottoman period, therefore it has a modest size. The bell tower was added much later. The church has a wonderful iconostasis of gilded wood and wooden columns painted in marble, as well as well-preserved icons.
The Orthodox Church of St. Paraskeva of Serbia is an imposing rotunda in the style of Byzantine architecture, built between 1939-1944.
St. Paul's Cathedral is a Catholic church in the Gothic Revival style with elements of brick Gothic, built in 1890 by the Italian architect Valentino. The interior contains beautiful sculptures and stained glass windows.
On the territory of the modern city of Rousse, the first settlement was founded 5000 years ago. Built by Emperor Vespasian in the 1st century. AD here is the fortress and port of Sek-saginta Prista. The fortress was located on the main road from Belgrade to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. In 250, the Goths destroyed it, and at the end of the 3rd century. the Romans restored it. In the IV century. it was destroyed again (this time - by barbarian tribes advancing from the north). In the IX-X centuries. the Bulgarians erected a fortress on the ruins and named it Ruse, after the patroness of young warriors.The geographical position of Ruse contributes to its rapid economic and political growth in the life of the country, it becomes one of the most developed cities during the Turkish rule and serves as a strategic base on the Danube. The city hosted a large Jewish community, expelled from Spain at the end of the 15th century.
After the liberation of Bulgaria and the country's independence, Ruse remained a border town in the north of the country and a port city, thanks to which other parts of the Danube region of Bulgaria were supplied. It was then that many beautiful buildings were built in Ruse, most of which have survived to this day.
Today, this city, located on the hills, is primarily one of the largest port cities in Bulgaria. The giant bridge over the Danube provides communication with Romania, the border with which runs along this bridge. The ethnic composition of the population living in Ruse is very diverse: there are a lot of Roma, who in Ruse have adapted better than in other cities in Bulgaria. The architectural, historical and administrative center of the city is the main city square and the entire city center - lively, modern, with beautiful architectural structures. In addition, there are historical monuments within the city limits.
The ruins of the ancient fortress Sexaginta Prista, built by the Romans in the 1st century. AD Tombstones and other structures have been preserved here, there are interesting inscriptions. The fortress was destroyed by the Goths in the 7th century.
All local revolutionaries who are considered the real heroes of the Bulgarian people are buried in the Pantheon building, which is located east of the city center, with a golden dome: Karavelov, Stoyanov, Baba Tonka, Kanchev, Karadzha, Hitov.
The Art Gallery has an excellent collection of works by local artists. A great opportunity to discover new talent.
In the youth park, 50 meters from the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1837, in honor of the visit to the city by Sultan Mahmud, a marble column, "THE KING'S STONE" (TSAREV KAMAK), was installed.
CHURCH OF ST. PAVLA (TSRKVA SVETI PAVEL) is located next to the Danube River. Catholic church, which houses the first Bulgarian organ, made in 1907. The church was built in 1890 in the neoclassical style by the Italian architect Valentine
BRIDGE CYUNTUKAPIA. It stands in the south of the city center. The bridge is all that remains of the Turkish fortress, which was located near the railway station.
In the vicinity of Rousse, there is the Rusenski Lom National Park. This park, stretching over 3,260 hectares, is located 20 km south of the city of Ruse. The reserve park contains rare birds. You can observe them, as well as visit the caves formed as a result of natural conditions. There are monasteries in the same park. Every year in September, exhibitions of the so-called natural art are organized.
Ruse is the largest city, industrial center and port of Bulgaria on the Danube (170 thousand inhabitants). There is a large two-tiered bridge over the Danube near Ruse. It is the main land gate for the transport of goods and passengers between Bulgaria and Romania and between Bulgaria and Russia. In terms of the development of mechanical engineering (agricultural, shipbuilding, electronics and instrument making, heavy equipment), Ruse is on a par with Plovdiv and is second only to Sofia. There are enterprises in the chemical, textile and especially food industry. Ruse is the center of the region with developed viticulture and beet growing.
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