The project includes the creation of six educational animations dedicated to key sites in the central part of the city of Ruse, presented in their appearance from around 1930, a period in which the city was already established as one of the most modern and European-looking cities in Bulgaria.
Among the restored sites are:
– The City Casino – an iconic building that can no longer be seen today;
– The Glass Booth – a symbolic place known to generations of Ruse residents;
– The Courthouse – presented through a 3D digital twin in its original form;
– The entire city garden – with its layout from the 1930s, including the “Boy with the Hydra” fountain, the Freedom Monument, the Lyuben Karavelov monument, the fence that is missing today, and the different layout of the green areas.
The idea of the project is not only to recreate buildings and figures, but to restore the spirit of Ruse from the era in which the city proudly bears the nickname "Little Vienna". Through modern 3D technologies and visual reconstructions, it is shown how Ruse transformed after the Liberation and how it acquired its extremely modern European appearance.
The six animations created so far are the first step towards a larger long-term vision - creating a complete digital reconstruction of the city from the beginning of the 20th century.
In the future, this could include:
– restoration of all key buildings from the period;
– recreating the urban environment with carriages, cars, clothing, and the atmosphere of the time;
– possibility for virtual walks using VR technologies;
– interactive applications through which visitors can “walk” through the streets of Ruse 100 years ago.
The project has added value – both for tourists and for the city's residents themselves. It allows every Ruse resident to touch their history in a lively, emotional, and interactive way.
