Happy TravellerWelcome to Ruse, Bulgaria, the fifth largest city in the country and a hidden gem in the northeastern part of Bulgaria. Located on the right bank of the Danube, opposite the Romanian city of Giurgiu, Ruse is approximately 75 km (47 mi) south of Bucharest, Romania’s capital, 200 km (124 mi) from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and 300 km (186 mi) from the capital Sofia. Thanks to its location and its railway and road bridge over the Danube (Danube Bridge), it is the most significant Bulgarian river port, serving an important part of the international trade of the country. Ruse is known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, which attracts many tourists. It is often called the Little Vienna.
Ruse is a city with a rich history that dates back to the Neolithic period. The city emerged from a Neolithic settlement of the 3rd to 2nd millennium BCE, when pottery, fishing, agriculture, and hunting developed. Excavations have revealed several layers, suggesting that the place was attacked by neighbouring tribes and suffered from natural disasters. Ancient sanctuaries were found nearby, where idols of a pregnant woman, a fertility goddess, were prevalent. The later Thracian settlement developed into a Roman military and naval centre during the reign of Vespasian (69–70 CE), as part of the fortification system along the northern boundary of Moesia. Its name, Sexaginta Prista, suggests a meaning of a city of 60 ships (from Latin: sexaginta — 60 and Greek: pristis — a special type of guard ship), based on the supposed 60 nearby berths.
During Ottoman rule, the invaders destroyed the town, reacting to a 1595 unsuccessful liberation attempt by a joint Vlach-Bulgarian army, led by Michael the Brave. After its rebuilding in the following years, Ruse was dubbed Rusçuk (Turkish for little Ruse) and had again expanded into a large fortress by the 18th century. It later grew into one of the most important Ottoman towns on the Danube and an administrative centre of Tuna Vilayet, which extended from Varna and Tulcea to Sofia and Niš.
After it became part of modern Bulgaria on 20 February 1878, Ruse was one of the key cultural and economic centres of the country. Intensive building during the period changed the city’s architectural appearance to a typical Central European one. Ruse is known for the many first innovations in Bulgaria, including the first printing office, the first railway line linking Ruse and Varna, the first agronomical school, the first steel ship, the first privately owned Bulgarian bank, the first technical school in Bulgaria, the first Weather station, the first Bulgarian pharmacy association, the first Bulgarian technical association, the first Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the first private insurance company Bulgaria, the first manually operated elevator, and the first movie projection.
Ruse is a city with a continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with very hot summers and relatively cold winters. Owing to its position on the Danubian Plain, the city’s winters can get windy. Winter temperatures often dip below 0 °C (32 °F), sometimes even to −20 °C (−4 °F). In summer, the average temperature is 25 °C (77 °F). Temperatures frequently reach 35 to 40 °C (95 to 104 °F) in mid-summer in the city centre and stay as low as 18 to 20 °C (64 to 68 °F) during the nights. During spring and autumn, daytime temperatures vary between 17 to 22 °C (63 to 72 °F), and precipitation during this time tends to be higher than in summer, with more frequent yet milder periods of rain.
Ruse is a city that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in history, architecture, or just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery, Ruse has it all. So why not book your trip today and discover the hidden gem that is Ruse, Bulgaria?
