Русе

The Little Vienna of Bulgaria

Ruse is the fifth largest city in Bulgaria, located on the right bank of the Danube River, opposite the Romanian city of Giurgevo. It is known as "Little Vienna" because of its exceptional architecture from the 19th-20th centuries - one of the most beautiful cities in the Balkans. The history of Rousse began 23 centuries ago with a Thracian port settlement. At the end of the 1st century, the Romans founded here the fortress of Sexaginta Prista (Port of the Sixty Ships), which is part of the Danube limes - the northern border fortification system of the Roman Empire. The fortress played an important role in protecting the empire from barbarian invasions. Remains of it can still be seen in the city center today. In the Middle Ages, the settlement was an important Danube point, which repeatedly passed between the Bulgarian kingdom and Byzantium. Under the Ottoman Empire, the city was known as Ruschuk and became one of the most developed cities in the Balkans. In the 1860s, Ruschuk became the administrative center of the Danube province (village) — with a territory as large as today's Bulgaria. The city is experiencing a remarkable cultural and economic boom. Many "firsts" in Bulgarian history took place here: the first Bulgarian newspaper "Dawn Dawn" was opened (1865), the first train was launched on the first railway line in Bulgaria (Ruse-Varna, 1866), the first theater production was held (1864), the first insurance company was founded, the first private bank was built and the first cinema in the Balkans was opened (1897). After the Liberation in 1878, Ruse was the most economically and culturally developed city in Bulgaria, and at the first census (1881) it was also the largest. The wealthy Roussen bourgeoisie, influenced by Vienna and Budapest, built magnificent buildings in the Neoclassical, Neobar, Neo-Renaissance and Secession styles. Today, more than 272 of them are monuments of culture, 12 of which are of national importance — including the Revenue Building (now the Drama Theater), the Freedom Monument (1908) and the Music Gymnasium. Ruse was awarded the award for the most beautiful city in Bulgaria (2009). The Danube Bridge (since 1954), 2.8 km long, connects Bulgaria with Romania and for a long time was the only bridge over the Danube between the two countries. "Angel Kanchev" University of Rousse is an important educational center. The book fair and cultural festivals make Rousse attractive for artists and tourists.