Ruse

The city of Ruse is situated on the highest right bank of the Danube River, 320 km from Sofia, 200 km from Varna and about 300 km from Plovdiv. The population of the city is about 180,000 people. This is one of the largest cities in the country – an important cultural, commercial, and industrial centre.

Due to the beautiful architecture and the internal shaping of the buildings constructed by Italian, Austrian, German and Bulgarian architects, Ruse was also known as “The Small Vienna”.One of the city symbols is the Building of the Tax Administration – a beautiful building in the centre of Ruse. It was constructed in 1901-1902 and impresses the visitors with its wonderful facade and the seven figures on the roof. They symbolise arts, science, music, agriculture, commerce, defence and the free spirit flight. On the top is the symbol of commerce – Mercury.

Another significant place to visit is The Regional Historical Museum. More than 130,000 monuments of culture are stored in it. Among them is the Borovsko Thracian Treasure – a set of up to five silver ritual vessels dating back to the 4th century BC.
Another interesting landmark is the Museum of the City Style of Life, called The Kaliopa House. Its exposition represents the interior of a rich Ruse home from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, and the beautiful wall paintings on the second floor were made by the Austrian painter Charles Schausberg.