Rousse
| Ruse Русе |
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  Ruse
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| Coordinates: 43°49′N 25°57′E / 43.817°N 25.95°E | |||
| Country |  Bulgaria |
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| Province (Oblast) |
Ruse | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Bozhidar Yotov | ||
| Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) | ||
| Population (2009-12-15)[1] | |||
| - Total | 166 991 | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Postal Code | 7000 | ||
| Area code(s) | 082 | ||
Ruse (also transliterated as Rousse or Russe; Bulgarian: Русе pronounced [ˈrusɛ]) is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria with a population of 166 991 (by current address). Ruse is situated in the northeastern part of the country, on the right bank of the Danube, opposite the Romanian city of Giurgiu, 300 km from the capital Sofia and 200 km from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. 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. The Ruse-Giurgiu Friendship Bridge, the only one in the shared Bulgarian-Romanian section of the Danube, crosses the river here.
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Geography
Ruse is located on the right bank of the Danube, which is the high bank, having two underwater terraces and three river terraces at 15–22 m (49.21–72.18 ft), 30–66 m (98.43–216.54 ft), and 54–65 m (177.17–213.25 ft). The average altitude is 45.5 m (149.28 ft) AMSL. The urban area is an approximately 11-km ellipse running along the river. The city extends from the land-connected Matey (Матей) island and the mouth of Rusenski Lom on the west to Srabcheto (Сръбчето) hill on the east. During the 20th century, the west end of the city was significantly modified by moving the mouth of Rusenski Lom to the west, as well as by moving the bank itself with its fairway considerably to the north. Sarabair (саръбаир) hill is to the south of the city and is 159 m (521.65 ft) high. The Rousse TV Tower is built there on the remains of Leventtabia, a former Turkish fortification.
History
Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The city emerged as a Neolithic settlement from the 3rd to 2nd millennium BCE, when pottery, fishing, agriculture, and hunting developed. Excavations reveal several layers, suggesting that the place was attacked by neighbouring tribes and suffered some 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. The fortress was located on the main road between Singidunum (modern Belgrade) and the Danube Delta and was destroyed in the sixth century by Avar and Slavic raids. Hungarian historian Felix Philipp Kanitz was the first to identify Sexaginta Prista with Ruse, but the Škorpil brothers demonstrated the link later through studying inscriptions, coins, graves, and objects of daily life. An inscription from the reign of Diocletian proves that the city was rebuilt as a praesidium (a large fortification) after it was destroyed by the Goths in 250 CE.
Second Bulgarian Empire and Ottoman rule
In the 13th and 14th centuries, during the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire, a fortified settlement called Rusi (also Golyamo Yorgovo; Bulgarian: Голямо Йоргово), first mentioned in 1380, emerged near the ruins of the Roman town. It later strengthened its position as an important trade centre with the lands on the opposite side of the Danube, until it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1388. Scholars suggest that the city on the river bank derived its present name from the Cherven fortress (Bulgarian: Чѐрвен; "червѐн" meaning red) through the root rous, which is present in many Slavic languages and is a cognate of French rouge and Latin rusos.[2]
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.
The “Dunav” newspaper appeared – it was the first printed in Bulgaria and ... in Bulgarian. Some Bulgarian schools were founded. The streets are renamed and numbered for the first time in Bulgarian lands. A post-office, hospital, home for the aged were founded. Three empires met here for trading: Austro-Hungary, Russia, British Empire, France and Italy opened consulates in Ruschuk. Imperceptibly, the modern city arose from the shades of the settlement. In 1865 the Obraztsov Chiflik was founded on the place where the English Consul’s farm was and it was the first modern farm on the territory of the whole Ottoman Empire of that time.
Ruse developed into a centre of the Bulgarian National Revival and hosted the headquarters of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee.
Liberated Bulgaria
After it was liberated from the Ottoman Empire on 20 February 1878, Ruse was one of the key cultural and economic centres of the country and the seat of Bulgarian shipping. Intensive building during the period changed the city's architectural appearance to a typical Central European one. That was also a time for a number of firsts for Bulgaria centred on Ruse, including the first private bank (Girdap), insurance company, chamber of commerce, filmshow, metal ship, and weather station.
In newly-liberated Bulgraria of the late 19th century, Ruse was a cosmopolitan city with a multiethnic population. According to the first census conducted in 1883, Ruse was populated by 11,342 Bulgarians, 10,252 Turks, 1,943 Sephardi Jews, 841 Armenians, 476 Germans, 291 Greeks, 231 Vlachs (Romanians), 170 Russians, 113 Serbs and Croats, 79 Roma people, 76 Hungarians, 74 Tatars, 58 Italians, 58 French people, 32 English people, 19 Persians, 16 Poles, 16 Czechs, and 69 people of other nationalities.[3]
“All facades on main streets of Russe shall have rich decorations with plastic stone”, postulate the Regulations for Constructions of Private Buildings of 1893, issued by the Municipality of Russe.
After knyaz Alexander Battenberg's 1886 abdication, and as a reaction to the regentship's course led by prime minister Stefan Stambolov, a group of Russophile (pro-Russian) military officers revolted in Ruse. The riot was violently crushed, and 13 of the leaders were quickly sentenced to death and executed near the city, which caused a lot of public discontent. Decades later, in 1934, local citizens raised funds and built a monument at the place where the Russophile officers were executed. The monument was blown up in 1940, but rebuilt in 1966 at approximately the same spot.
World War II and Communism
Between World War I and II, after Southern Dobruja was lost to Romania, the economic significance of the city decreased. So did the population, and Ruse was no longer the second-largest city in Bulgarian lands (after former East Rumelian capital Plovdiv), being quickly surpassed by Sofia and Varna. Many big companies left, and all foreign consulates were closed, except for the Russian one, which has remained functional since.
The return of Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria in September 1940 fostered good conditions for restoration of the city's leading role. It became a provincial centre, and economic activity revived. The construction of the Ruse-Giurgiu bridge in 1954 and the fast industrialization gave a new push to development. Ruse emerged again as an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational hub. Engineering, chemical, and light industries expanded; a large harbor was built; and the city became a university centre. At the 1985 census, a population of more than 186,000 was reported.
Fall of Communism and democratic Bulgaria
In the early 1980s, Ruse entered a dark period of its history. The Verachim factory was built in Giurgiu, which polluted the air between 1980 and 1987, impacting the city's development. Population decreased, and 15,000 people moved out between 1985 and 1992. Fortunately, in 1987, the Romanian factory ceased the pollution, under pressure from environmental organizations on both Bulgarian and Romanian communist leadership. Organizations, such as Ekoglasnost, provoked nationwide demonstrations and strongly influenced the change to democracy.
During the 1990s, the economic crisis in Bulgaria affected Ruse. Most big companies suffered a decline and unemployment increased, which led to renewed emigration waves. Since 2000, the city has been continually regaining its former leading status.
Today, Ruse is a large Bulgarian city, with a population of 166 991 (by current address), and is one of the basic cultural and economic centres of northern Bulgaria. The country's accession to the European Union is expected to bring local benefit through new investments and opportunities for international business.
Transport
Ruse is a major road and railway hub in Northern Bulgaria. Railway transportation in the city dates back to 1867 when it became a station of first railway line in Bulgaria Ruse - Varna. There are railways to Southern Bulgaria, Sofia, Varna and Bucharest. Ruse has two railway stations for passenger services (Central and Razpredelitelna) and other 2 for freight transport services. There are intercity buses that link Ruse with cities and towns all over the country and some European countries. They are based in two bus stations: South and East.
Ruse has an extensive public transport system including around 30 bus and trolleybus lines. Most of them are operated on terms of concession by the Bulgarian subsidiary of the Israeli transport holding Egged Egged Ruse official webpage. There are also several suburban bus lines, operated by several private Bulgarian transport companies.
Approximately 15 km southeast of Ruse is the village of Shtraklevo, near which is the former military Ruse Airport with an international statute but currently closed. Plans exist to redevelop and reopen the airport for internal, charter, and cargo flights. The runway is long enough for Boeing 747s (Jumbo Jets).
Education
There is one university in Ruse - "Angel Kanchev" University of Ruse with a capacity of 12 000 students. The university's structure includes a subsidiaries in Silistra and Razgrad.
There is also a subsidiary of the College of Agriculture - Plovdiv in the city.
Culture
Noted for its rich culture, Ruse hosts a philharmonic orchestra and the Rousse State Opera (founded in 1949). The city is particularly famous for its Baroque and Rococo architecture.
Museums
- National Transport Museum
- Battenberg Palace, built 1892, which now hosts the Rousse Regional Historical Museum
- Pantheon of National Revival Heroes
- Kaliopa House, a museum depicting the old urban lifestyle
- Zahari Stoyanov Museum
Religious buildings
- Church of the Holy Trinity
- Church of the Holy Theotokos
- Church of St George
- Church of Holy Archangel Michael
- Church of the Holy Ascension
- Church of St Petka
- Russian Church of St Nicholas the Miracle Worker
- Roman Catholic St Paul of the Cross Cathedral, built 1890
- Armenian Surp Astvadzadzin Church
- Evangelical Baptist church
- Evangelical Methodist Church
- Seid Pasha Mosque
- Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, a World Heritage Site, is situated 20 km to the south.
In 1978, the All Saints Church was destroyed and the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes was built thereupon.
The Jewish community in Ruse built and consecrated a synagogue in 1797. It was destroyed in the 1810 fire, but two other synagogues were later built in 1826 and 1852. [4]
Other landmarks
- Dohodno Zdanie (literally: "Profitable Building") is an old theatre and one of the most beautiful buildings.
- Monument of Liberty, built (1908–1911).
- Rousse TV Tower, the tallest TV tower in Bulgaria and one of the tallest buildings on the Balkan Peninsula .
Regular events
- The March Music Days is an international music festival for classical music.
- St George's Day (6 May) is Ruse's holiday. A local fair is organized for a week around this date.
- The Danubian Carnival is a masquerade held around 24 June, Enyovden.
- The Sexaginta Prista Summer Stage is an urban festival. Events are hosted at the Roman castle every Friday from May through October.
- At the end of October are BG MediaMarket and the Bulgarian Europe Media Festival.
Notable citizens
- Elias Canetti, winner of the 1981 Nobel Prize for Literature
- Albert Aftalion (1874–1956), French economist and economic situation theoretician
- Silvester Maria Braito (1898–1962), Czech catholic Dominican priest, theologian, poet, literary critic, journalist
- Michael Arlen (1895–1956), original name Dikran Kouyoumdjian, short story writer, novelist, playwright, and scriptwriter
- Jules Pascin (1885–1930), painter
- Tanyu Kiryakov, pistol shooter, Olympic champion
- Konstantin Evtimov, solo violoncello of the Simphonic Orchestra of National Bulgarian Radio (1975)
- Vlad Kolarov, cartoonist
- Radi Nedelchev, painter
- Roman Kissiov, poet and painter
- Tonka Obretenova, 19th-century revolutionary
- Neshka Robeva, rhythmic gymnastics player and coach
- Veselin Topalov, chess player, FIDE world champion 2005-06
- Stefan Tsanev, writer
- Venelina Veneva, high jumper
- Orlin Anastassov, opera singer
- Alemdar Mustafa Pasha Ottoman Grand Vizier
- Deyan Angeloff Nedelchev, (16.1.1964), pop singer and composer
- Boyko Angeloff Nedelchev, (24.4.1965), pop singer and composer
- Gloria (singer), a pop-folk singer
- Rositza Bordzhieva, (20.4.1954.), pop singer and music pedagog
- Boris Chakurov, composer
- Atanas Kosev, composer
- Peter Petrov-Parcheto, jazz musician
- Mihail Arnaudov, academic
- Mimi Balkanska, opera and opereta singer (1902–1984)
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Honours
Ruse Peak (800 m) on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the city.
Gallery
 Dohodno Zdanie (1902) |
 The Monument of Liberty (1906) |
 The abandoned Old High School of Music, which is to become a cultural centre (1900) |
 Old architecture |
 The Rousse TV Tower as seen from the city |
 The old Credit and Trade Popular Bank (1911) |
 The Roman Catholic St Paul of the Cross Cathedral (1890) |
See also
References
- ^ http://grao.bg/tna/tab02.txt
- ^ "The city of Rousse - history, photos, information". uni-ruse.bg. 2003-06-25. http://www.uni-ruse.bg/en/rousse.php. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ Angelova, Penka (2006). "Die Geburtsstadt von Elias Canetti" (in German). Elias Canetti: Der Ohrenzeuge des Jahrhunderts. Internationale Elias-Canetti-Gesellschaft Rousse. http://www.archives.government.bg/tda/docs/canetti_izlojba_ruse.pdf.
- ^ Teodora Bakardjieva. "The Jewish community in Ruse". http://www.sefarad.org/publication/lm/035/6.html. Retrieved 4 M a r c h 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Ruse Municipality - Fraternize Cities". © 2008-2009 Ruse Municipality. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Bratislava City - Twin Towns". © 2003-2008 Bratislava-City.sk. http://www.bratislava-city.sk/bratislava-twin-towns. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
- ^ "История" (in Bulgarian). Rousse.net. http://www.rousse.net/statistika/timeline/timeline.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ "История на Русе" (in Bulgarian). ZoneBulgaria. http://bg.zonebulgaria.com/centralna_severna/ruse/istoria/. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ "Община Русе" (in Bulgarian). Rousse.bg. http://rousse.bg/. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rousse |
- Ruse municipality
- History of Ruse
- Live webcams in Ruse
- Live webcams in Ruse
- ruseinfo.net, an internet portal (in Bulgarian)
- ruseonline.info forum
- 360° virtual panoramas from Ruse
- Pictures from Ruse:
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Coordinates: 43°51′N 25°58′E / 43.85°N 25.967°E
