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Ruse

Romania & Bulgaria Travel Guide

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Ruse, Bulgaria - October 21, 2017: Old city library "Luben Karavelov" in Ruse, Bulgaria

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Overview

One of Bulgaria's most elegant cities, Ruse, sometimes written 'Rousse', has more than a touch of Mitteleuropa (Central Europe) grandness not seen elsewhere in the country. It's a city of imposing belle époque architecture and neatly trimmed leafy squares, as if a little chunk of Vienna had broken off and floated down the Danube. Its past is abundantly displayed in several museums and in its ruined Roman fortress, standing guard high over the Danube.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Roman Fortress of Sexaginta Prista

    Roman Fortress of Sexaginta Prista

    Ruse

    Archaeological work is ongoing at this former Roman fortress at a high point along the Danube. Research attests to some 2000 years of continued military…

  • Profit-Yielding Building

    Profit-Yielding Building

    Ruse

    This huge, gloriously titled neo-baroque building dominates the western end of pl Svoboda. Built between 1898 and 1902 by Viennese architects, it was…

  • Pantheon of the National Revival

    Pantheon of the National Revival

    Ruse

    The gold-domed Pantheon of the National Revival was built in 1978 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the deaths of 453 local heroes who fought the…

  • Museum of the Urban Lifestyle in Ruse

    Museum of the Urban Lifestyle in Ruse

    Ruse

    Built in 1866 this elegant townhouse features some re-created period rooms, with 19th-century furniture, paintings and chandeliers upstairs. Downstairs…

  • National Transport Museum

    National Transport Museum

    Ruse

    The country's only National Transport Museum is housed in the building of Bulgaria's first railway station. It exhibits vintage locomotives from the late…

  • Ruse Regional Museum of History

    Ruse Regional Museum of History

    Ruse

    The 5th-century BC Borovo Treasure, consisting of silver cups and jugs adorned with Greek gods, is one of the highlights of Ruse's main history museum…

  • Sveta Troitsa Church

    Sveta Troitsa Church

    Ruse

    Built in 1632 below ground level – according to the Turkish stipulation that churches should be as unobtrusive as possible – Sveta Troitsa has a fine gilt…

  • Catholic Church of St Paul the Crucified

    Catholic Church of St Paul the Crucified

    Ruse

    This church just off ul Pridunavski was completed in 1892. Its original murals, stained-glass windows, chandeliers and icons survive. St Paul’s was the…

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