The Romanian capital is a whimsical mix of unique Wallachian architecture, the finest museums in Southeast Europe, and pompous projects from the era of communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. Once upon a time, the legendary and gloomy Vlad Tepes lived and ruled in Bucharest, whose personality served as the prototype of the bloody Count Dracula. The city is full of mysteries, interesting discoveries and unexpected finds.
Much of the historical heritage of Bucharest has been irretrievably lost, as in the XX century old buildings, churches and streets were demolished in whole blocks. But much has survived - picturesque palaces, the old quarter of Lipskani, the remains of the medieval fortress of the Wallachian princes. Bucharest has been revived today. More and more tourists are walking along the streets, architectural monuments are gradually being restored and infrastructure is developing.
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What to see and where to go in Bucharest?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Palace of Parliament
A monstrous building in the center of the city, for the sake of which an impressive part of the historical districts was demolished and an artificial hill was poured. The huge was built at the request of the dictator N. Ceausescu, more than one billion dollars were spent on the construction. Previously, the building was called the "House of the People", but after the overthrow of the communist government it was renamed the "Palace of Parliament".
Palace of Justice
The building of the late 19th century, where the city court of appeal sits. The front façade of the building, facing the embankment of the Dambovitsa River, is decorated in a classic French style with statues symbolizing Law, Truth, Justice and other virtues. The Palace of Justice covers an area of more than 33 thousand square meters, the total number of interior rooms is about 700. The last restoration was carried out in the early 2000s.
Cantacuzino Palace
The building of the beginning of the XX century, located on one of the oldest city streets. Previously, the palace belonged to one of the mayors of Bucharest D.G. Cantacuzino. This is a graceful building in the style of French classics with neat touches of Art Nouveau, Rococo and Art Nouveau. The facades of Cantacuzino are richly decorated with decorative elements; famous masters of their time were invited to decorate the interior of the palace.
Palace Crezulescu
The palace was erected by the architect D. Antonescu at the beginning of the XX century, the building is considered one of the most picturesque in Bucharest. During the construction, a mixture of architectural styles was generously used: baroque, neo-gothic, French classicism. The palace was created in imitation of French architecture, since the Romanian nobility at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries tried to focus on France in everything.
Cotroceni
The current residence of the President of Romania. The building was built at the end of the 19th century for the ruler Karol I in the Brankovian architectural style. This unique style of construction originated in the territory of the former Wallachia in the 18th century. It is distinguished by the presence of a large number of decor, oriental elements, openwork arches and light flying structures. Cotroceni was designed by the French architect P. Gottero.
Mogoshoaya
The palace and park ensemble, located 10 km. from the capital of Romania. It is one of the brightest examples of the Brankovian architecture. The complex served as the summer residence of the Romanian rulers. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Turks took the palace (Wallachia was under Ottoman rule for a long time). The building and the territory of the park were badly damaged during the Russian-Turkish war. After restoration in 1860-1880. Mogosoaya passed into the possession of the aristocratic Bibescu family, in 1945 the palace passed to the state.
Romanian National Museum of Art
The museum was founded in 1950, its first exhibits were works of art from the collection of the Romanian ruler Karol I. Subsequently, the exposition was replenished by private collections. The museum contains samples of decorative and applied art: antique furniture, tapestries, dishes, icons, carpets. A large part of the museum funds are paintings by famous painters - Romanian, European and Russian.
Ethnographic Museum of Dmitry Gusti
An open-air museum that showcases the life of a Romanian village. The houses for the exhibition were brought from different parts of the country. In addition to residential buildings, there are wooden churches, traditional outbuildings, windmills and other historical sites typical of rural Romania on the territory. The museum exposition is located on the shore of Lake Herastrau in a picturesque green park.
Museum of Peasant Art of Romania
The exposition was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. It tells about the life, way of life, traditions and occupations of the Romanian peasant family. In the museum you can see a variety of national costumes, the furnishings of a peasant dwelling, various works of folk art. In 1944, the building housed a museum of two socialist leaders - Lenin and Stalin, the original exhibits were removed. But in 1990, the collection returned to its place.
National Museum of Romanian History
The museum is located in the historical building of the main branch of the city post office, earlier this building was called the "Postal Palace". The exposition covers all historical periods - from the Paleolithic era to the present. The museum contains an extensive and rich archaeological collection of various artifacts, which can be used to trace the history of the predecessor states of modern Romania.
Romanian Athenaeum
Cultural center, created at the end of the 19th century on the initiative of members of the cultural society. Now on its territory is the Philharmonic named after. J. Enescu. At various times, the composer Maurice Ravel, the famous conductor and violinist David Oistrakh, the pianist Svyatoslav Richter and other no less worthy representatives of the musical art performed here. The front facade of the Athenaeum is decorated with Ionic columns, the building is crowned with an imposing Byzantine dome.
CEC bank building
Historical building of the 19th century, which houses the main bank of Romania. According to many tourists, this building is the most picturesque in Bucharest. A museum or a reception hall could well be located here. The bank's headquarters is a stately neoclassical mansion with a large central dome, small side domes and monumental columns.
Coltea hospital building
The hospital is the oldest in Bucharest, it was founded at the beginning of the 18th century with funds from the Vakareshte family of patrons. A century later, as a result of a strong earthquake, the building was destroyed; it was restored only towards the end of the 19th century. Currently, the Ministry of Health is located on the territory, so it is impossible to go inside and admire the interiors like an ordinary tourist.
University Central Library
The construction appeared in 1891-1895. At first, it housed the royal fund, and in 1947 the university library moved here. In front of the mansion there is a monument in honor of the ruler Karol I - the first king of the principality of Wallachia and Moldavia. Unfortunately, the library's holdings were badly damaged during the 1989 fire. The building was designed by the French architect P. Gottero.
Stavropol Church
One of the most respected churches in Bucharest, built in 1724 during the reign of Nicholas Fanariot.The architecture of the building is the elegant and picturesque Brancovian style, which is quite typical for some of the historical buildings of Bucharest. The interior design is dominated by the Byzantine style. The church is decorated with frescoes, elaborate wood and stone sculptures and beautiful paintings.
Antim Monastery
An active male monastery named after its founder, Metropolitan Antim Ivirianu. The cloister was built on the site of a wooden church in 1713-15. From the end of the 18th century, a school of clergy began operating at the monastery. In the middle of the 20th century, all the monks were arrested, and the monastery itself was dissolved. The restoration was carried out in the 60s. thanks to the initiative of the hierarchs of the Romanian Church.
Church of Crezulescu
One of the oldest and most respected churches in the Romanian capital. The temple was built in the classic Brankovian style, combining Italian, Byzantine and Oriental architecture. The facade and interior walls are decorated with frescoes by the Romanian painter G. Tartarescu, which are made in an unusually realistic manner. The Orthodox of Bucharest revered this church very much; during services, there is often no free space inside.
Patriarchal Cathedral
The cathedral was built in honor of Saints Constantine and Helena in the middle of the 17th century. In the course of several reconstructions over the centuries, the building has lost its original appearance, only the semicircular facade arches have survived from the original. Unfortunately, the name of the architect remained unknown. Since 1925, the Patriarchal Cathedral has been the main temple of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Not far from the temple is the residence of the Romanian Patriarch.
Kurtya-Veche
The former residence of the princes of Wallachia, which at the same time served as a defensive fortress. The complex was built in the XIV century, but soon fell into disrepair and collapsed. The fortress entered its heyday under Vlad the Impaler. The ruler expanded the territory and practically rebuilt the fortifications. At the end of the 18th century, the rulers moved to another place, and the surrounding lands were sold to private individuals. Nowadays, the ruins of the fortress are recognized as a national monument.
Lipskan street
Pedestrian street in the central part of Bucharest. In the Middle Ages, the busiest trading quarter of Wallachia, later called Lipskani, was located around it. Since then, little has changed - in this part of the city life rages around the clock, restaurants and bars are almost never closed, tourists come here for the never-ending holiday atmosphere. The historic district of Lipscani miraculously survived the massive demolition of old buildings during the time of Ceausescu.
Unification Boulevard
A wide avenue that starts from the Palace of Parliament and stretches through the center of Bucharest for 3 km. to Alba Iulia square. It is often compared to the Parisian Champs Elysees (sometimes Bucharest is even called "Paris East"). The entire architectural ensemble of the Boulevard was rebuilt in the 80s. XX century and was intended to accommodate the administration and government structures. Previously, this place was the historical part of Bucharest with buildings from past centuries.
Triumphal Arch
The monument was erected on the Kiselev highway in the first half of the 20th century. Until 1922, a wooden analogue of the monument stood here. The Arc de Triomphe of Bucharest is very similar to the Parisian one, but it is not its complete analogue. The monument was built in honor of the defenders of Romanian independence; a group of prominent Romanian architects worked on the project: D. Pachuria, P. Antonescu, A. Calinescu and others.
Cismigiu Gardens
The park territory, created on the initiative of Count Kiselev, the head of the provisional administration of Romania after the end of the Russian-Turkish war. The garden was created on the swampy outskirts of Bucharest by the Austrian landscape designer V. Mayer. Now the park is located in the city center. It has colorful flower alleys and a system of artificial ponds. The garden is decorated with plants brought from all over Romania.
Bucharest Botanical Garden
The city botanical garden is the real pride of the Romanian capital. A large number of rare and unique plants are collected here. The garden was founded in 1860 at the initiative of the botanist K. Davile, at first it occupied a small area of 7 hectares. Gradually, the territory grew, the collection of plants was replenished, and the garden began to lack space. In 1884, it was decided to move the park to the Cotroceni region, where it is located to this day.
Herastrau Park
A park located around the lake of the same name in the northern part of Bucharest. Until the 30s. In the 20th century, there were swamps in this place. The park expanded to its modern borders by the 50s. The territory houses the Ethnographic Museum of Dmitry Gusti, a large recreational area, fountains, bike paths and playgrounds. On Lake Herastrau, if you wish, you can take a boat trip.
