Ruse [key], city (1993 pop. 170,209), NE Bulgaria, on the Danube River bordering Romania. The chief river port of Bulgaria, it is also an industrial and communications center; a bridge spans the Danube to link Ruse with Giurgiu, Romania. It has shipyards, a petroleum refinery, and varied manufactures, including chemicals, dyes, varnishes, heavy machinery, computer hardware, foodstuffs, and textiles. Ruse is the seat of an Eastern Orthodox metropolitan and of a Roman Catholic bishop. Founded (2d cent. b.c.) as Prista, it became a Roman naval station. Under Turkish rule (15th–19th cent.) Ruse, known as Ruschuk, served as a military base. Elias Canetti was born there. The city has a polytechnic institute and is noted for its old churches and mosques.
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