Straddling the border of Bulgaria and Romania, the romantic and picturesque city of Ruse seems like nothing else in the country. The frontispieces and façades of its regally adorned old town exude an elusively western European character; one that hints of Paris with an aftertaste of Brussels. But don’t be deceived, this town is wholly Slavic in its ways, with monuments like the great Pantheon of National Revival Heroes, which honours Bulgaria’s historical greats, and the nearby Cherven Fortress standing as stark reminders that we are closer to the Black Sea, not the Baltic. Then there are the colossal ruins of Sexaginta Prista, a remnant of this city’s former military might and a testimony to its roots in the depths of Roman history. 
Given this city’s comely appearance, most Ruse tourist guides will recommend a stroll through the old town districts, along the main drag of Aleksandrovska and towards the Freedom Square. Others will enjoy casting their eye across the Danube, to where the Romanian city of Giurgiu sprawls out over the northern banks. More intrepid types could even opt for a jaunt through the subterranean tunnels of Orlova Chuka, which run deep underground near the Bulgarian village of Pepelina nearby.