bg Ruse

Todor Tonev House

- Kiril Startsev Street 11 -
Engineer Todor Tonev designed and built the residential building for his family in 1909. He was born on May 23, 1864, in the town of , Romania, where his parents are merchants. Until the second grade, he studied at the mixed Bulgarian school in Măcin, then continued his education in Ruse, and in 1884 graduated from the first class of the Boys' High School. He entered the Technical University of , wherein 1888 he graduated with two degrees, on a scholarship from the Ministry of Education. He worked as a construction engineer on the - railway line, and for a short time he was an engineer in . From April 1, 1889, he became a district engineer of Ruse and in 1893 he was one of the founders of the Bulgarian Engineering and Architectural Society.

In 1896 he married Slava, daughter of the great merchant , and settled permanently in Ruse. After the death of Todor Tonev on June 20, 1944, the house remained with his son Stefan, also a civil engineer. His eldest daughter, Vasilka was married to the merchant Mincho Minev in 1921 but she died young. His other daughter was named Elena and her daughter Sofia was the heir that got the family home back but sold it shortly after.
Todor Tonev and his wife Slava
On the southeastern corner of the Art Nouveau building, you'll be able to see a with a majestic bell shaped dome on top of it. The circular window is flanked by two small garlands and two fragments that contain a wavy relief. These same decorations can also be admired on top of the tower like structure on the east side of the building. This structure also contains some beautifully decorated . It also contains a balcony, which is supported by two and secured with a stone balustrade. The same design of the balustrade can be seen at the main entrance door. On the north side of the building, you'll be able to see a semi-hexagonal bay window.
The Ruse pavilion at the first Plovdiv trade and industrial exhibition in 1892 was designed by engineer Todor Tonev