Roman Fortress “Sexaginta Prista”
WORKING HOURS:
WINTER PERIOD
Tuesday–Saturday
from 09:00 to 12:00
from 12:30 to 17:30
Monday and Sunday: days off
SUMMER PERIOD
Every day
from 09:00 to 12:00
from 12:30 to 17:30
CONTACTS:
City of Ruse
2 “Tsar Kaloyan” Street
Phone: 082 825 002
Email: pr.museumruse@gmail.com
TO THE VIRTUAL ROOM
Sexaginta Prista is an ancient Roman fortress whose history begins on the remains of an older Thracian temple and settlement. Its name means “Port of the Sixty Ships” — according to one theory, this reflects the transfer of a Roman legion along the Danube, for which sixty ships were used.
The fortress is situated on a hill near the bank of the Danube, in the northwestern part of the modern city. Due to its strategic position and its great importance for the Roman navy and the defense of the Empire’s northern border (the so-called Danubian Limes), Sexaginta Prista served as a military, naval, and commercial center.
What you will see:
The fortress has been turned into an open-air museum — the exhibition includes preserved fragments of fortress walls, a tower, remains of buildings, a temple, and the headquarters of the Roman unit (principia).
You may see:
Partially restored northwestern wall and tower.
Foundations of six ancient buildings, including a temple of Apollo, a Late Antique principia (military headquarters), and civilian structures.
A small museum/exhibition hall (partly located in a World War II bunker) displaying archaeological finds — coins, pottery, and everyday objects showing the site’s millennia-long history.
A model of an ancient Roman ship (type “pristis”), illustrating the importance of the fortress as a port.
Thus, a visit to Sexaginta Prista gives you the opportunity to step onto real remains from antiquity and immerse yourself in ancient Rome — with all its military, naval, and cultural aspects.
GALLERY:
