One of the most visited sights on a short break to Bucharest is the Parliament Palace known as the ‘House of the People’. Built by order of Ceausescu it was supposed to be the largest building in the world but in-fact today it is the second after the Pentagon. Nowadays you can explore many of the ornately decorated conference halls and rooms. You can also visit the Piata Revolutiei where the first significant movements of revolution against Ceausescu regime took place. Bullet holes have been preserved where the army was ordered to open fire. It is a stark reminder of the not so distant past and makes for a fascinating bit of modern history for foreign travelers.
The Casa Centrala a Armatei is an interesting sightseeing attraction for those on a short break in Bucharest. It is an impressive neo-classical masterpiece built in 1912 to host the social and cultural needs of Romania’s army. Now it is the army’s library, offices and training centre for officers. Most of the areas are out of bounds for civilians but you can enjoy the views from the lovely terrace, which is open to all guests and holiday makers.
The Old Court (“Curtea Veche”, open Wednesday – Sunday 10.00-18.00), located in the centre of the old town; it used to lie on the left bank of the river. In 1972, on the site of the former Princely Court there was inaugurated an open air museum with fragments from different stages of the fortress development. The museum can be also seen from outside, as there isn’t much to the back, but it can also be visited by entering.
Next to the ruins of Vlad Tepes citadel lies the 1559 Old Court Church (Biserica Curtea Veche). In this area archaeological diggings have released proof of the existence of some 6th – 7th century cottages, as well as remains of a 14th century fortress. It is famed for its unique architecture and ancient frescoes inside; an essential site for any discerning traveler.
The Village Museum - One of Bucharest's finest sights is the Village Museum, situated within the Herastrau Park alongside a lake. It is a fascinating outdoor museum with a collection that spans more than 300 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture including peasant homes, barns, wooden churches and Transylvanian houses from all regions of the country to recreate a village setting. Traditionally dressed peasant workers portray life during the 16th and 17th centuries along with everyday tools and accessories. Traditional crafts are also for sale around the site.
Stavropoleos Church - The tiny but remarkable Stavropoleos Church was built in 1724, designed by a Wallachian prince renowned for his religious architectural accomplishments, and is one of the oldest churches in Bucharest. Built using a combination of Romanian and Byzantine architecture it has a beautiful façade and a delicately carved columned entrance. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, it is an architectural jewel, with beautiful frescoes and religious icons.
Arch of Triumph initially built in wood, in 1896, to celebrate the royal wedding between Prince Ferdinand and Queen Maria. Made of stone in 1922, in the memory of the victory of Romanian army in the World War I and finished in the actual shape during 1935, of Deva granite. Standing 25 meters high, the Arc has a staircase that allows visitors to climb to the terrace on the top of the monument.
House of the Free Press (Casa Presei Libere) An impressive edifice standing somewhat menacingly at the entrance to the capital, Casa Scanteii (as it is still universally known) was designed by architect Horia Maicu and completed in 1956, one year after the strikingly similar Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, Poland. Originally housing almost all of the capital's printing presses and newsrooms, it, today, carries out much the same function, with the addition of the Bucharest Stock Exchange in the southern wing.
The Royal Palace (Palatul Regal) Erected between 1927 and 1937 in neoclassical style, the palace was home to King Carol II and to his son, King Mihai I, until 1947, when the monarchy was abolished in Romania. It was inside the halls of this palace that King Mihai, aged 18, led a coup that displaced the pro-Nazi government during the World War II and put Romania on the Allies’ side. Today, the former Royal palace houses the Romanian National Art Museum.
The Beer Cart Restaurant (Carul cu Bere) Opened in 1879, this famous restaurant and beer house soon became one of the most popular meeting places for Bucharest’s literati who would gather to discuss matters of their time. Its neo-gothic architectural style is reflected both in the façades and the interior decorations: columns, arches, chandeliers, a wooden staircase, furniture and murals on the walls and ceiling.
A walk along Calea Victoriei, formal Royal Avenue during the 19th century and one of the oldest boulevards in Bucharest, is a true delight. Nowadays, a walk on the Calea Victoriei may begin at the National Museum of Romanian History the nation’s most important museum, which offers a remarkable display of Romania’s cultural progress. The exhibits are historically valuable objects discovered within the country’s boundaries and dated fro prehistoric ages until modern times.
After visiting the museum’s galleries, nothing could be more relaxing than a stop at he most famous café in Bucharest – Casa Capsa. Built just across the Cercul Militar, its history began in 1852, when Grigore Capsa inaugurated his pastry shop: La Doi Frati, Anton si Vasile Capsa (At Anton and Vasile Capsa Bros.), a common meeting place for Romanian and foreign political dignitaries, for columnists, artists and cultural luminaries, but also for the most beautiful women in Bucharest. After Capsa was rewarded the “Grand Medal” at the Vienna exhibition, in 1873, its owner opened a hotel as well, establishing there his legendary café.
If you happen to love classical music, Ateneul Român is the right place to be, especially in the evening. The 794 seat concert hall is happily situated on Calea Victoriei, in the George Enescu square. The building’s construction, outset in 1886, has a rather interesting history, since it was largely financed by public subscription, through a campaign which ran under the slogan “Spare a coin for the Athenaeum!”
The Cotroceni compound built between1678-1688, was refashioned during the reign of Barbu Dimitrie Stirbei, who also inaugurated the gardens of Cotroceni which are considered among the finest in Bucharest. After the devastating 1977 earthquake, the palace had to be largely rebuilt and a new wing was added., hosting today the official seat of the Presidency of Romania. In 1991, the Cotroceni National Museum was opened for public visitation. Throughout the entire tour of the museum, the sightseer gets acquainted to the interior architecture, quite typical for every historic period, as ell as the suggestive cantacuzine medieval spaces and to the refinement of the royal residence.
Since its beginnings, the National Theatre has been a cultural milieu that inspired the foundation of a national dramaturgy: it was here where the audience got acquainted universal with the most recent and interesting universal theatrical works and, furthermore, the first Romanian school of stage directing was founded here and generations of great actors were shaped within these premises. Among the exceptional performances staged here in the last few years, some are indeed worth mentioning: “Take, Ianke si Cadir”, “O noapte furtunoasa”, and “Toujours l’Amour”, “A Midnight Summer’s Dream”, “Edward III”, “Don Quixote”.
Located in the heart of Bucharest, Cişmigiu Park is one of the oldest and most delightful public gardens in the capital. The park’s structure was created by the German garden designer Carl Meyer, a member of the commission assembled by Prince Gheorghe Bibescu. 30,000 trees were planted on more 40 acres. With their magnificent flower beds, the gardens are still impressive today, as they host some protected species of trees.
People’s House is a great tourist attraction that must be visited while staying in Bucharest. People’s House is famous first of all for its impressive dimensions – second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon and the third largest building in volume size after the Cape Canaveral building in the United States and Quotzalcoatl in Mexico. Every year, numerous international celebrities just passing through Bucharest - from soccer players to pop-rock stars – rarely mss out on the opportunity of taking a tour throughout the marbled rooms. The groups of visitors walk through chambers of breathtaking sizes: the eclectic architecture, the over-decorated style, the excess of marble, the stucco ornaments, the heavy panelling and the flickering rain dropping from the crystal chandeliers elicit a long surge of “oh” and “wow” sighs. The tour often ends in applause.
The old centre of Bucharest s divided by the main street Lipscani, which owes its name to the Leipzig merchants. Here you will find narrow streets, named after the different guilds, branch of Lipscani. The tourist passes by the magnificent building of the National Bank of Romania, fallowed by a series of modern restaurants leading to the shopping area. By mid 19th century, the provincial or foreign traveller coming to Bucharest could find accommodation in one of many inns located in the old centre of the city. According to the situation and rank of their owners, these inns welcomed royalties, noblemen, merchants or votaries.
Quite representative for the old merchant inns, Manuc’s Inn is a particular attraction for present day tourists. The inn was built between 1808-1808 and it hosted 23 shops, offering storing facilities in its vaulted cellars or I its 10 storerooms. The ground floor rooms accommodated short-term guests and the upstairs space, with over 100 rooms, provided lodgings for travellers expecting a longer stay. The inn also had a tunnel ready to accommodate as much as 500 people in the event of a siege.
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