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Bucuresti - Capital
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Bucharest is situated in the south-eastern part of Romania, on the bank of Dambovita River.
The city is not one of the oldest in the country, and it has continuously prospered since its foundation,
to become by the end of the 17th century the capital of the historical region of Walachia and by the
end of the 19th century the capital of Romania. During the interwar period the city earned
the nickname of "little Paris", due to its outstanding architecture, the city's
artistic life and the predilection of high society to speak French.
Today one can still observe the strong influence exerted by the French architects
on the architectural landscape of the city: neoclassical buildings, parks arranged similar to the
French ones, the "Arc de Triomphe" on the Kisselev Avenue, a wide avenue that
wants to resemble the famous "Champs-Elysee" in Paris.
Contemporary Bucharest is with a population of about 1.900.000 inhabitants a bustling
modern metropolis full of life and diversity, the biggest industrial, commercial
and cultural centre in the country. The multitude of cultural attractions
and historical and architectural monuments make Bucharest to the
favourite tourist destination for the ones looking for cultural experiences.
Furthermore you will be able at the highest stage to combine cultural with
recreational activities, due to the great number of public gardens and parks to be found here.
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Triumphal Arch
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Triumphal Arch - Detail
Princely Church
Stavropoleos Church
Old Princely Court
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Bucharest preserves numberless monuments of art and architecture, erected in different periods and styles.
The city is simply a mixture of Romanian and international architectural styles, the French influence being preponderant.
Among the several landmarks of the city the most prominent is the Palace of Parliament,
known also under the name of "People's house" (Casa Poporului). According to the
Guinness Book this building is the second largest one in the world after the US-Pentagon.
The Palace hosts today the Romanian Parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
The "Triumphal Arch" is another symbol of the city and was erected at the beginning
of 20th century after the "Arc de Triomphe" in Paris. The sculptures decorating it are the work
of leading Romanian artists.
Although a wide part of the old medieval architecture was destroyed, one can still admire remains
of it in Lipscani area, which used to be the commercial, cultural and political heart
of Bucharest during Middle Ages. In the 15th century many Romanian, Armenian, Austrian,
German and Jewish merchants and craftsmen established here their shops.
This mix of cultures had as result the variety of architectural styles in this perimeter,
from baroque to neoclassic and art nouveau.
The core of the Bucharest historical area are the
remains of the Old Princely Court (Curtea veche), built in the 15th century by
Vlad Tepes, also known as Count Dracula. All that was preserved are a few
walls, arches, tombstones and a Corinthian column. Next to the Old Court stands the
Princely Church, probably erected in the mid-16th century and dedicated to the Annunciation.
The City Centre covers a large surface and includes several large famous squares:
Unification (Unirii), University (Universitatii), Roman (Romana), Victory (Victoriei) Squares.
Along the wide avenues that link these important points one can admire buildings from
the 19th and 20th century, most of them erected during the interwar period, when the face
of the city was practically changed. The Cotroceni Palace, the current residence of
the Romanian president, is only one representative of this period. The French architect
Paul Gottereau reconstructed in neoclassical style the former princely court on "Cotroceni" Hill,
creation of the prince Serban Cantacuzino. The Cotroceni Museum shelters objects from
the 18th and 19th centuries that belonged to the Romanian rulers.
The visual arts are very well represented in Bucharest. The city hosts numberless museums,
which exhibit valuable Romanian and international art collections. The most famous is the
Romanian Art Museum, to be found in the former Royal Palace. Here you have the
opportunity to admire masterpieces of Brancusi and other famous Romanian artists.
For the ones who want to find out more about the history of the city, we recommend a visit to
the Bucharest History Museum, located in the Sutu Palace in the city centre,
that exhibits among other things the official Bucharest attestation document and various
other documents referring to important political and cultural events in Bucharest since its
foundation until nowadays. You can continue your journey in the past with a stop at the
National History Museum, home to valuable historical vestiges dating back to different
periods, from prehistoric to modern times. Behind the Museum your attention will be drawn by
the beautiful Stavropoleos Church, founded by Ioaniche, the bishop of Stavropoleos
(a locality in the Balkan Peninsula) - hence the name of the church. In the alehouse
"Caru cu bere" situated across the church and built in German Neo-gothic style you will
have the opportunity to witness the atmosphere of a typical German alehouse and meet the
literary elite in Bucharest.
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If you are interested in the customs and traditions of Romanians you should definitely not
miss the two internationally renowned ethnographical Museums in Bucharest: the
Museum of Romanian Peasant and the Village Museum. The latter is situated in the
Herastrau Park, on the shore of the lake, and contains peasant buildings and farms from all over Romania.
Every now and then when you need a break from your sightseeing tour you can repose in one of
the many public gardens and parks to be found here, among which Herastrau and
Cismigiu Parks are the largest and the most famous ones.
The nearby forests (Snagov, Caldarusani, Baneasa, Cernica and Comana) are also a
very good choice for the ones who want to relax and have a good time. You can combine here
recreational with cultural activities, by visiting the Snagov, Caldarusani
and Cernica Monasteries.
If you want to experience nature more scientifically, you can take a walk through the
Botanical Garden, situated near the Cotroceni Palace.
An exciting day should end with an exciting evening. Bucharest won't disappoint you,
if you prefer performing arts, because this is one of its strongest cultural
elements. A good choice would be "George Enescu" Philarmonic, hosted by the
Romanian Athenaeum, a hall with acoustics comparable to Milan's La Scala,
the work of the French architect Albert Galleron. Every two years, the Romanian
Athenaeum is home to the George Enescu International Festival, a prestigious
classical music event named after the famous Romanian musician and composer.
A good alternative to the Philarmonic is without doubt the Romanian Opera House,
that's worth visiting not only for the brilliant representations but also for its outstanding interior design.
If you love gastronomy the city offers unlimited possibilities to explore the exquisite Romanian cuisine.
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Herastrau Park
Lipscani Street
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Vacations |
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Accommodations |
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