national museum of transport and communication

One of the few transport museums. Rousse was the town where the first railway of Bulgaria has been built. Unfortunately, like all museums in Bulgaria, the budget is poor and this reflects on the quality. Also for the specific museum, to go there is almost dangerous - the park, the alleys, the stairs to go down to the museum...are in awful conditions. Not to say about the houses around the museum....

I liked tha fact this was a pretty old museum set up. They clearly do not have much money but with what they have there is plenty to see. Worth an hour or two of your time.

Bulgaria's National Transport Museum is located in the old Ruse train station, the nation's first, which was built in 1866 at the urging of the people who owned the Orient Express. The purpose was to get the train to Varna on the Black Sea coast, from whence the passengers would take a ferry down the coast to Istanbul, thereby shortening the overland train journey from Paris. This was a fun museum.To enter the museum you have to knock on the door to summon the attendant, who then takes you on a personal guided tour. Our guide was a lovely woman with good enough English to get us through. The Sultans's and King's rail cars were magnificent and a potent reminder of the luxury of train travel in a past era. Some nice locomotives outside also. Most of the signs on exhibits inside were in Bulgarian but the guide had brief, good explanations. The Museum is located on the banks of the Danube and we found it almost by accident by walking through a large park and turning towards the river near the end of the park. It also has smaller exhibits on Danube river traffic.

The CFR has tried to gather its historical artifacts and momentos. Many interesting and historical model trains as well as a sizeable and operating model railway.

From my childhoold I love to make trip by train and the small and sound of steam locomotives never I forget. And now still working in Romania some Steam locomotives in mountains regions but many beautiful exemplares are in this Museum. Every child must see them, not only to discover their beauty but to appreciate the evolution of engineering in locomotion.

Take a look at the old rail cars. The tsar Simeon REAL rail car is there DO NOT MISS. The entrance is about 5 EUROs

This is a lovely little museum. When we arrived the door was locked and we had to ring for entry. We had the museum all to ourselves and were shown round by a friendly, knowledgeable and English-speaking guide. The museum is only small but has an intersting selection of old trains including the royal trains of the Ottoman Sultan and two Bulgarian Tzars. There's even a handcar you can have a go on.

An interesting place to visit, whether you like old transport or not. There is a small entry fee, and you may get asked for a few leva for a photographic permit too. The rail exhibits have changed several times between our visits (see http://www.phoenixwebhosting.co.uk/bgtm/index.html) but there's a good mix of steam, more modern locos and carriages. Don't forget to visit the displays in the station museum too, but don't expect a gift shop or catering.

We visited the museum on a Saturday afternoon. Rang bell on door as prompted and was greeted by friendly Bulgarian lady who showed us around the museum and it's exhibits. She was very good at explaining everything, especially in English! The museum had some steam trains and old carriages which were totally amazing! We were able to get inside the carriages and also have a go at the pulley car thingy! It was very hands on. Overall a great experience for somebody who is in Ruse had an hour or two spare - in my opinion an interest in Trains is not necessary to enjoy this museum although I am sure it would help. Just visit anyway and have a good time.

On a hot May afternoon we turned up and rang the bell (appointments not necessary). The guide came down and let us in and showed us round with limited but easily enough English language skills. The old station is interesting with clear display (though captions are all in Bulgarian.). The whole tour is very hands-on, so we were able to sit at the station-master's grand desk and take photos. There was substantial British involvement in the development of the Bulgarian railways, so UK visitors like us recognise the picture of the Rocket as well as the Manchester built engine outside. Outside the engines and carriages are awe-inspiring. We stood in the engine driver's place and drove a railway workers' trolley car. The Sultan's carriage is very grand, including the seats for his harem in an adjacent compartment. The Emporor Franz Ferdinand's carriages are fantastic and we sat on his bed and felt the luxury.

It's a little bit hidden in the city park, on the Danube riverside, and the trains there are a little bit rusty (because of the low maintainance and budget, I guess). However, this is a unique place to visit, and you can get onto old locomotives, trains and wagons as well as make some photos there.

Редкий музей, небольшой, экспонатов немного, но кто в наше время представляет, как путешествовали по железной дороге турецкий султан Абдул Азиза (причем, вместе с гаремом, хотя, наверное, только с самой любимой его частью, т.к. места не так много в женском гаремном отделении вагона), а также Болгарские цари Фердинанд 1ый и Борис 3ий (последний царь Болгарии). Кстати, этот вагон потом использовался в качестве штабного вагона маршалом Толбухиным.Здание музея - не просто здание, а первый железнодорожный вокзал города Русе. Приветливый персонал разрешает покататься на ручной дрезине. Среди паровозов на улице стоит паровозик-кинозвезда, снимавшийся в фильме "Турецкий гамбит"Можно просто побродить среди паровозов, но если вы захотите пройти по вагонам царственных особ, то придется купить билет на экскурсию. Недорого, на болгарском языке, но все поймете. Персонал, если знает, "как это по-русски" обязательно вам скажет на русском.Недорого, занимательно, познавательно. Не только детям, но и взрослым рекомендуется.