Ruse Province, Bulgaria - Where to go and what to do?

Where is the Ruse Province located?

The province of Ruse is located in North Central Bulgaria. Other provinces that it borders on the interior are Silistra, Razgrad, Targovishte and Veliko Tarnovo. Its northern border is also the Bulgarian-Romanian border and the majestic Danube River – the largest waterway in Europe.

The river connects this region with 4 European capitals:

Vienna
Budapest
Belgrade
Bratislava

The province’s administrative centre, Ruse, is about 325 km from Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, and about 60 km from Romania’s capital, Bucharest.

Municipalities within the province of Ruse, Bulgaria

Although here you can find the 5th largest city in Bulgaria, a total of 8 municipalities are located within the province’s borders.

Let’s see which are they:

Borovo
Byala
Vetovo
Dve Mogili
Ivanovo
Ruse
Slivo pole
Tsenovo

Rivers in the Ruse Province

When talking about northern Bulgaria, we can’t skip mentioning the rivers. Although the region is famous for the massive Danube passing by, the mainstem is only the tip of the iceberg. There are several tributaries and other rivers that you can see here.

Here’s a full list:

Danube
Baniski Lom
Beli Lom (river)
Dolapdere
Malki Lom
Rusenski Lom
Studena (River)
Topchiiska Reka
Cherni Lom
Yantra

Geographical features

As the region is located on a territory near the Danube River, what characterizes it is the low-lying topography and flat and hilly areas. I’ll mention that the region’s highest point is 289 m above sea level (in Borovo), so you get a complete picture of the terrain.

However, don’t let the low altitude fool you. Ecotourism in this province is as booming as agriculture in some specific areas like Ivanovo and Rusensko Polomie, where you can find an entire hidden mountain under the plain.

High viewpoints over canyon-like river valleys, semi-mountainous landscapes and diverse flora and fauna – here you can find all of it.

Interesting facts about the province

There are too many interesting things to mention about this region to cover in a few paragraphs. You’ll learn about most of them by reading the rest of the materials on this website.

Let’s start with the administrative centre, Ruse or Rousse:

The Harbour of 60 Ships – years ago, an ancient Roman fortress was located on this territory – Sexaginta Prista, which was also a part of the Roman fortification system. You can still find its remains today.
The City of First Things – Ruse is also known as “The City of First Things” because, there, many things were first introduced for the first time in Bulgaria. Some examples include a street being named for the first time, the first brewery, the first railway station (today a museum) and many more.
The 5th largest Bulgarian city is called “Little Vienna” – there are many reasons for this comparison. First off, they are both located on the Danube bank. Other reasons include the European architectural influence and the administrative, economic, transportation, educational and cultural influence the city has had throughout the years.

There’s much more to say about Ruse, Bulgaria, but let’s talk more generally about the region. Within the province, you’ll find many ancient ruins and archaeological sites from earlier Thracian and Roman settlements. But there’s much more to see here than rich history and culture.

Near Ivanovo, you can see the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, which were carved into the rocky cliffs. You can also see the stunning canyons, nature reserves and rock formations and finish the day with a good wine-tasting experience in a local winery.