bg Ruse

Sigmund Rintel Building

- Slavyanski Boulevard 6 -
The construction of the administrative and commercial building started in 1907 and was completed in 1908. The design was made by the Hungarian architect Jankovic and was commissioned by the engineer Sigmund Rintel. Rintel was the owner of one of the first modern cinemas in Ruse, which was located in the Jewish quarter and was called Independent Bulgaria, which later was known as the cinema Odeon. He rented the building out to the Bulgarian General Bank and the Jewish Bank.

The building was later bought by Samuel Wilhelm Mattersdorf, who moved to in 1931 and left for on the eve of the start of the . Between 1940 and 1972, the administration of the Bulgarian River Shipping Company was housed in this building. When they moved out to a new building, the Danube Research and Maintenance Agency moved in here.
An old photo showing the building on the right
The building is built in the Art Nouveau style and contains three statues of human figures. The first figure is a statue of a man holding a hammer and a wheel, which symbolizes labor and crafts. The female figure, which is holding a shield and a laurel wreath, symbolizes the fame that the occupants of the building are expected to gain through the fruits of their labor. The third figure is the Greek god , which is the patron of trade and culture.

On top, within the segmental parts of the building, you'll be able to see two richly decorated . A bit further down you can admire four that are surrounded by tiny . The balustrades of both the two balconies contain different designs. The unusual ornaments that flank the windows on the second floor are adorned with floral decorations. The underneath the windows are embellished with eight each.

The that stretches from the second floor all the way up to the attic floor, is crowned by a majestic bell shaped dome, which is supported by four small . Underneath the circular window, you can see the initials З.Р. (Z.R.), which are the initials of Sigmund Rintel. The main entrance door, underneath the oriel window, is flanked by two more female mascarons. The barred windows of the main entrance door are decorated with tulips, geometric forms, and .
The three statues