ABOUT THE TOWN OF RUSSE
The town of Russe (population: 182 500) is located on the right bank of the
Danube river, near to the mouth of
Rusenski Lom river.
It is situated 320 km north-east of
Sofia, 203 km north-west of
Varna and 106 km north-east of
Veliko Turnovo.
Russe is an old Bulgarian town with traditions in culture, art and education and with developed industry and trade. The greatest and the most important town on the
Danube River, known also as “Little Vienna”, because of its ancient architecture. It is a regional centre.
HISTORY
In 69 – 79 year of the new era, on a part of the territory of the modern town an ancient settlement of Sexaginta Prista came to existence. The roman Emperor Vespasian founded it. The name means “Port of the sixty ships”.
In Medieval times the settlement is one of the most developed and prosperous regions in Bulgaria. During the Ottoman Rule it turned into an important harbor and a strong border fortress. In 16th century the town was called Rossi and in 17th – Rouschouk.
In 19th century Russe is considered the most European Bulgarian town with flourishing economy.
The first Bulgarian newspaper, printed in Bulgaria was published there. In 1866 the building of the first Railway road in Bulgarian lands Russe – Varna was completed. The first navy school and the first weather service were established in the town of Russe.
It became a centre of the struggle for spiritual and national liberation. A lot of foreign and Bulgarian celebrated architects, arts and writers did their creative work there.
Nowadays Russe is a big economic, transport, cultural and tourist centre.
MUSEUMS
The
Historical museum preserves over 120 000 exhibits in 5 departments – Archeology, Nature, Ethnography, Bulgarian history XIV – XIX century and New Bulgarian History.
There are also the
Museum of the town living standard in XIX and XX century, the
House-museum of Zahari Stoyanov, the
House-museum of Baba Tonka, the
Pantheon of the Enlighteners.
The
National Museum of Transport and Communications is housed in the building of the oldest railway station of Bulgaria.
The town
Art Gallery exhibits works of art of Bulgarian and foreign artists.
LANDMARKS
About 200 buildings in Russe are on the list of the fund of the architectural historical heritage Bulgaria, 12 of which are especially valuable: The
Old Theatre, The
Monument of Liberty, The
High School of Music, the
Catholic church and etc.
The places of interest of the town also include the
Leventabia Fortress, the
Mahmud Column, The
St.Trinity church, the monuments to those, who perished in the Serbian-Bulgarian War (1885).
THEATRES
There is an
Opera House in Russe, a
Philharmonic Orchestra,
Theatre of Drama “Sava Ognyanov” and a
Puppet Theatre.
FESTIVALS
Some of the most significant annual festivals are being held in Russe: The International festival for symphonic music “March days of Music” (17 – 31 March); The International Jazz Festival (November), The International Theatre Festival “Danube – European River, Danube – Balkan’s river”.
TRANSPORT
Bus, railway and river transport services the inner-town and international connections of the town. There are regular bus lines to
Sofia,
Varna,
Pleven,
Veliko Turnovo,
Shoumen and a lot of other towns and villages in the country.
Russe is the initial or the final station of 2 railway lines: Russe – G. Oryahovitsa – St. Zagora – Podkova and Russe – Kaspichan – Varna. It is connected through them to the national railway network.
The river station is a big one. But there are cruises solely along the international route Russe – Belgrade – Novi Sad – Budapest – Bratislava – Vienna – Linz – Pasau. Since 1993 the ferryboat line Russe – Giurgiu has been in operation too.
SURROUNDING AREAS
The Western
Park of “Prista” is located at the distance of 6 km from Russe along the road to the town of
Byala.
12 km east of the town is the
“Lipnik” forest park. There are country houses, restaurants, dam lakes, hotels, a zoo corner, a sport base.
Near the town is the
Russenski Lom River Valley. 3260 hectares of its territory was proclaimed as a
National park.
25 km south of Russe is situated the electrified cave
Orlova Chuka – the second cave by length in Bulgaria.
Bassarbovo Monastery is situated 15 km from the town of Russe and it is the only active rock monastery in Bulgaria today.
The
Danube River provides for great possibilities for recreation, water sports, water tourism, fishing and a lot of other amusements.
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