Introducing Ruse
Cultured Ruse (roo-seh), the fifth-biggest city in Bulgaria, is far more than just a point of passage to Romania, though for many it’s just a stop on the way to or from Bucharest. Yet with its grand square enlivened by cafés and Austro-Hungarian–influenced architecture, often illuminated to great effect at night, Ruse is a very appealing and lively town with a rich and varied history. This past is abundantly displayed in several museums, and in its ruined Roman fortress, standing guard high over the Danube.
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Indeed, considering that Ruse features such sites, and boasts the best dining and nightlife in northern Bulgaria, there’s plenty to keep you for a few days. Ruse’s also a base for visiting the nearby rock monasteries and other attractions at Rusenski Lom Nature Park.
Already a key Balkan commercial transport hub, there are ambitious plans to build a new industrial zone south of Ruse, as well as a foreign-owned car factory, indicating that the city’s economic importance is still growing – though such developments are not particularly encouraging for the local environment.
For more information on local wineries.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
