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Source: AFP
There ever utilized to beryllium a agelong enactment of postulation waiting to transverse the alloy truss Danube Bridge implicit the stream betwixt Giurgiu successful Romania and the Bulgarian metropolis of Rousse connected the different side.
But since some EU countries afloat joined Europe's Schengen open-borders portion this year, removing time-consuming frontier checks, postulation travel has accrued significantly.
One traveller, who lone gave his sanction arsenic Christian, drives the 75 kilometres (46 miles) southbound from the Romanian superior Bucharest to Rousse to banal up connected "cheaper" cigarettes oregon perfumes that prevention him money.
"With Schengen, it's faster: nary much queueing to person our papers checked," helium said, leaning against his bluish Mustang.
On weekends, a agelong enactment of cars with mostly Romanian registration plates crosses the borderline span towards the Bulgarian commercialized hub, bringing with them tourists who boost the section economy.
According to information from Romania's roadworthy absorption agency, astir 160,000 cars crossed the borderline astatine Giurgiu betwixt January and March 2025, compared to 128,000 during the aforesaid three-month play past year.
Romanian menus
With tourism successful Rousse booming, Bulgaria's fifth-largest metropolis has begun catering to its caller clientele, with edifice menus printed successful Romanian and bilingual unit highly sought-after.
Source: AFP
The metropolis of 125,000 radical -- besides called "little Vienna" -- is known for its eclectic premix of architecture ranging from neo-baroque to communist-era buildings.
In beforehand of a fashionable edifice successful the city's cardinal square, a young mates from Giurgiu waited patiently successful a agelong queue.
"It's easier to travel now. We truly similar this place, it's 1 of our favourites," said 43-year-old teacher Claudia Badarau, lasting adjacent to her spouse Bogdan.
Full integration into the present 29-country Schengen portion has had "a affirmative interaction connected the city, due to the fact that determination are galore much tourists", edifice manager Todor Ratsov told AFP.
"There are rather a fewer Romanian tourists, chiefly due to the fact that of easier entry," helium said, adding that "90 percent of his menus" are present successful Romanian.
According to Adrian Nikolov, elder economist astatine the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics think-tank, "the effect is astir exclusively tourism-related".
Over time, Nikolov added, it volition beryllium absorbing to measure the interaction connected turnover of hotels and restaurants.
More pilgrims
Created successful 1985, the Schengen portion includes 25 of the 27 European Union subordinate states arsenic good arsenic Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and allows much than 400 cardinal radical to question freely wrong the area.
Source: AFP
Romania and Bulgaria endured a frustrating 13-year hold for afloat introduction and yet joined connected January 1, aft Austria dropped its menace to veto rank implicit migration concerns.
Truckers and cross-border workers particularly person benefited.
"For companies whose lorries transverse the border, this means reduced travel time, much reliable transportation times, and little substance and unit costs connected the aforesaid way compared to past year," Nikolov explained.
According to Romania's transport federation, each bearer can prevention "two to 3 hours connected average", which translates into "extra wealth and other freight".
The Basarbovo monastery conscionable extracurricular Rousse -- named aft a shepherd who erstwhile lived determination arsenic a hermit and whose relics are venerated successful Bucharest -- has seen much visitors.
Carved into the broadside of a mountain, the monastery remains a fashionable destination for Romanian pilgrims -- and much precocious families connected holiday.
Source: AFP
Father Aleko has noticed a "clear increase" successful the fig of visitors.
"Once they walk done Rousse, they ne'er neglect to travel and airy a candle and commune to the saint," helium told AFP, referring to the shepherd who became Saint Dimitar.
Translator Oana Manulescu was visiting the hermit's cave with her household from Bucharest.
"There are things to see, the prices are much affordable. And the Bulgarians are a precise welcoming people," she said.
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Source: AFP
