București The Capital of Romania

13-PM-241-DJ-BG MINISTERUL EDUCAŢIEI NAȚIONALE

INSPECTORATUL ŞCOLAR JUDEŢEAN DOLJŞCOALA GIMNAZIALĂ TEASC

Bucharest is situated in the South-east of Romania, on the banks of Dâmbovița and Colentina Rivers.

It is the most important political, economic and cultural centre in Romania with a population of around 2 million inhabitants.



The legend has it that Bucharest (București) was founded by a shepherd called Bucur. But historical accounts claim that it was most likely founded by Mircea the Old (Mircea cel Bătrân) at the end of the XIVth century.

Paleolithic and Neolithic vestiges have been found on the banks of the Dâmbovița and Colentina Rivers. Archeological findings prove the development of this settlement from the Iron Age to 100 B.C., showing that it was inhabited by Geto-Dacians.



Mirceal cel Bătrân

In the Middle Ages Bucharest became an important commercial centre which allowed the rulers of the XIV century to establish a Princely Court there – known as the Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche) – the centre around which the medieval city developed.

Reconstruction of the Royal Court Curtea Domnească – present day



The name Bucharest was first mentioned on September 20, 1459 in a document issued by the Chancellery of Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Țepeș), ruler of Wallachia.

The city was first attested in a scroll of Radu cel Frumos (Radu the Handsome) issued from the Ruler`s City of Bucharest on October 14, 1465. It was Radu cel Frumos who chose Bucharest as the ruler`s residence.

In 1558 – 1559 the Ruler`s Church (Biserica Domnească) was built in the Royal Court, which has remained to the present day the oldest worship place that has survived in its original form.

A new Court was established in 1599 and a church built at the end of XVIth century.



In the XVIIth century the rulers Radu Șerban and Radu Mihnea took great efforts to renew the city. Matei Basarab (1632 – 1654) restored the Old Princely Court and built churches of “the Saint Apostles”, Sărindari and Plumbuita. In 1640, as his relationship with the Turks worsened, Matei Basarab moved his capital back to Târgoviște, but Bucharest still remained the Ruler`s City.

Matei BasarabPlumbuita Monastery



In May 1654, Constantin Șerban Basarab, Matei Basarab`s successor, lived in Bucharest for a short period of time because, following the rebellion of his mercenary troops in February 1655, he left for Târgoviște, ordering that Bucharest and the Court be burnt. Constantin Șerban built in Bucharest the Small Paraclis on the Hill of the Mitropoly.



In December 1659, Gheorghe Ghica moved back to Bucharest and in 1688 the Head of the Metropolitan Church moved from Târgoviște to Bucharest too. In 1678, during the reign of Șerban Cantacuzino (1678 – 1688), several important buildings were built: the royal houses of Zlătari (demolished in 1977); Măgureanu, Doamnei and Cotroceni Churches, and the great inn „Șerban Vodă”. The royal houses from Cotroceni Monastery started being built.

Cotroceni Palace

Doamnei Church



The reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714) is characterized by political stability, economic growth and cultural development. Constantin Brâncoveanu`s reign remained in Romania`s history as one of great development – buildings with a refined, delicate architecture were erected, with arches sustained by columns richly ornated with flower motifs inspired by the Romanian folk tradition, with balconies like pavilions and the well-known wonderful red-tiles roofs. They express refined elegance and are referred to, even today, as the “brâncovenesc style”.

Constantin Brancoveanu

Mogoșoaia Palace



Buildings of all kind, workshops, shops and churches were built for the small merchants along Calea Victoriei (the Victory Way): Icoanei, Colțea and Fundeni churches, “Constantin Vodă” and “St. Gheorghe” inns, etc. The number of craftsmen living in the city kept growing.

Fundenii Doamnei Church

Frescoe inside the church



Church of the Icon

Colțea Church



In 1694 the first Superior School in Wallachia was founded – the “Royal Academy” from “St. Sava” Monastery and in 1704 the first hospital was founded at Colțea Monastery. The hospital was demolished in 1898 along with Colțea Tower and the wooden church was rebuilt from stone.

In 1716, the “Fanariot” regime started. It meant that the Romanian provinces were ruled by rulers of Greek origin appointed by the Ottoman Empire. They all came from the same neighbourhood in Istanbul called “Fanar”. This is the highlight of Ottoman domination.

Yet, trade and crafts flourished. In 1775 the Slavonic and Romanian school “St. George the Old” is founded. New houses were built: the new Royal Court on Spirii Hill, “Beilic” House, a pavilion in Herăstrău Park, etc. The first public fountains in the city were built in 1779.

Colțea Hospital before demolition and today



Between 1806 and 1812 the streets were repaired. “Manuc” Inn (1808), the “Filantropia” Hospital (1812) and the first theatre in Bucharest, “Cișmeaua Roșie” were built. The Treaty of Bucharest between Russia and Turkey was signed in Manuc Inn. After it burnt, it was rebuilt in 1968 on the site of the Central Halls.

In 1807 the second Russian-Turkish War started and Bucharest fell under the authority of the tsarist troops.

In 1821, Tudor Vladimirescu, the leader of the people`s anti-Ottoman insurrection, supported by Russia and the Greek organization called “Eteria”, entered Bucharest. He “ruled” from Bucharest for 56 days. Entering into conflict with the “Eteria” and losing the Tsar`s support, Tudor Vladimirescu was forced to leave Bucharest in order to avoid an open confrontation with the Turks. The Ottoman troops entered Bucharest, plundered and terrorized the population.



After the Peace Treaty of Adrianopol (1829), Bucharest was occupied by Russian forces. The general Pavel Kisseleff was preoccupied about the city`s and its citizens` welfare.

In 1834 the ruler Alexandru Ghica founded the National Library.

The fire of 1847 burnt to the ground the commercial area and craftsmen`s workshops. It was rebuilt following a modern urban blueprint.

National Library of Romania



National Bank of Romania

On December 31, 1852, the first play was staged in the new National Theatre, the third biggest in Europe at that time (1000 seats).

In May 1857, Bucharest was the first city in the world to use gas lamps for lighting.

On February 8, 1859 Bucharest welcomed the newly-elected ruler of both Wallachia and Moldavia, thus becoming the capital of a united nation.

In 1860 Gheorghe Lazăr and Matei Basarab High Schools were founded. The first cobblestone streets appeared.

National Theatre

Gheorghe Lazăr National College

Matei Basarab High School



The University opened its gates to students in 1864, being built on the site of old St. Sava Monastery.

The first tram line pulled by horses started functioning in 1871 and Bucharest`s main train station – North Station (Gara de Nord) started operating in 1872.

North Railway Station





Little Paris

Between 6 December 1916 and November 1918, the city was occupied by German forces as a result of the Battle of Bucharest, with the official capital temporarily removed to Iași in Moldavia. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of Greater Romania.

The charm of the Romanian capital between the two world wars, with its extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture won it the nickname of “Little Paris” of the east, with Calea Victoriei (Victory`s Way) as its Champs-Elysees.



The Triumph Arch

The Triumph Arch was built in 1922 and it was made of wood and plaster. It is meant to be a tribute to the Union of the three Romanian historical provinces, after the victory of the Romanian army in World War I. A stone and concrete one replaced the wooden arch in 1935 – 1936. Two bronze medallions ornate the southern façade, representing the faces of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria that replaced the original ones destroyed by the Communist regime after the `80s.





The People`s House – The Palace of Parliament

The People`s House was built on Spirii Hill (called after a famous doctor from the area) in the 1980s when the whole neighbourhood underwent urban development, on the orders of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Built on an artificial hill, it stands 84 metres high (12 floors) and it looks imposing and domineering. It covers a surface of 330.000 square metres which makes it the second largest in the world after the Pentagon.

A great part a neighbourhood in the city`s centre was demolished in order to build it.

It has numerous halls, corridors and huge rooms, the largest of which is the Union Hall, 16 metres high and covering a surface of 2200 square metres, wonderfully carved wooden doors, gracious marble staircases, delightful carpets and pieces of furniture as well as crystal chandeliers. The biggest chandelier in the building, weighs 3 tons and has 700 light bulbs.





Constitution Square and the Union Boulevard

In front of the Palace of the Parliament there is Constitution Square (Piața Constituției) which is a place where shows, celebrations and parades take place. Unirii Boulevard (The Union Boulevard) starts in the Constitution Square and Ceaușescu meant it to be longer than Champs Elysees. There are several richly ornated fountains along the boulevard.



Manuc InnBuilt in 1808 for the

traders, it used to be one of the most famous and impressive buildings in Wallachia.



The Romanian Athenaeum

C. Esarcu, V.A. Ureche and N. Kretulescu founded the institution called the Romanian Athenaeum in 1865, its purpose being to “offer people useful knowledge”. In order to raise the necessary money by public donations to actually build it, they used the motto “give one leu for the Ateneu”. The French architect Albert Galleron designed it in neo-classical style and its construction started in 1886. It was inaugurated in 1888. Its facade resembles a Greek temple with Ionic columns.



The Romanian Opera

The Romanian Opera was built in 1953 following the design of Octav Doicescu. On the top floor there is the Opera Museum and in front of it there`s a bronze statue of George Enescu made by the famous Romanian architect Ion Jalea.



Stavropoleos Church

Hidden between taller buildings, the church is situated behind the former Palace of the Post (the current History Museum). The little church was built by a Greek monk that came to this land. It illustrates the influence of late brâncovenesc architecture. The stone columns, the pedestals, the column tops, the porch with rails are delightful to look at thanks to the craftsmanship of the plants and animal carvings.



The Village MuseumIn the spring of 1936 the Romanian Village

Museum was founded and managed by professor Dimitrie Gusti. The writer Al. Odobescu was, in fact, the first one to think about gathering a collection of folk art, peasants` homes and tools from all Romanian provinces and exhibiting them to the public. The Village Museum is one of the first ethnographic museums in the world and the second ethnographic museum located outdoors in the world.



Cișmigiu Park and Lake

The present site of the park used to be a lake which got its name from the head of the public fountains (cișmigiu) whose house was nearby. The Austrian landscape designer Carl Meyer drew the outline and oversaw the realisation of the park which was opened to the public in 1854. The flower gardens are impressive as well as the variety of tree species.



Herăstrău Park

Was built in 1936 on the banks of Herăstrău Lake and it is the largest park in Bucharest. There are a summer theatre, exhibition pavilions, cafes and restaurants.



Bucharest Architecture

Cantacuzino Palace

National Theatre

Astronomic Observatory



House of Free Press University of Bucharest

National History Museum National Museum of Art – Royal Palace



Bucharest – the Old Historical Centre



This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made

of the information contained therein.

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București The Capital of Romania