Bucharest

The beauty of Romania’s capital city

 The Palace of Parliament
• the second largest administrative building in
the world, after the Pentagon;
• 1100 rooms
• 328-ft-long lobby
• 4 underground levels, including an enormous
nuclear bunker;
• The Crystal Chandelier in the Human Rights Hall
weights 2.5 tons;
• Other chandeliers – 7000 bulbs.
 Cotroceni Palace
• houses the present day offices of the President of
Romania and the National Cotroceni Museum;
• the only official residence in Romania that has been
used for over 4 centuries;
• the old wing was opened to the public as Cotroceni
National Museum;
• a collection of approximately 20,000 objects,
divided into various domains: plastic arts (Romanian
painting, international painting), graphic arts,
sculpture, decorative art, furniture, ceramics, glass
and textiles.
 CEC Palace

• built in 1900 in eclectic style;

• topped by a glass and metal dome;
• the four corners are decorated with gables
and coats of arms and ending in Renaissance
domes;
• well-known for its toughness.
 Kretzulescu Palace

• built in 1902-1906 ;
• the seat of UNESCO European Centre for
Higher Education since 1972 ;
• eclectic architectural style, with touches of
French Renaissance;
 Cantacuzino Palace (George Enescu
National Museum)
• built in 1901-1902;
• permanent exhibition of the museum
organized in three of the palace’s rooms;
• an impressive collection of: photographs,
manuscripts, musical instruments, documents
and objects related to the life and work of the
musician.
 The Royal Palace

• became the building of the National Museum

of Art after abolishing the monarchy;
• amazing sculpture and painting galleries
belonging to the most famous national and
international artists.
Athénée Palace Hilton
 Mogoșoaia Palace
• built between 1698-1702 ;
• Brâncovenesc architectural style (a
combination of Venetian and Oriental
elements);
• amazingly beautiful grounds and gardens;
• presently houses a museum and art gallery.
 The Museum of The Romanian
Peasant

• holds a collection of textiles, especially

costumes, icons, ceramics, and other artifacts
of the Romanian peasants’ life;
• designated "European Museum of the Year"
in 1996;
• 100,000 traditional objects.
“Grigore Antipa” National Museum of
Natural History

• one of the oldest research institutions in the

field of biodiversity and public education;

• holds an impressive collection of vertebrates,

invertebrates and entomological species.
 The Romanian Athenaeum

• one of the most beautiful and emblematic

buildings in Bucharest;
• built after a national campaign which lasted
28 years.
 The National Library of Romania
• the repository of all that is published
in Romania;
• purchases and preserves documents and
makes them available to the public, for
research or personal study;
• several special collections, including: rare
books, manuscripts, historical archive, old
Romanian newspapers and maps.
The Central University Library “Carol I”

• frequented mainly by students;

• built on the site bought by King Carol I;
• the construction was completed in 1893;
• an equestrian statue of King Carol I in front of
the building.
The Astronomical Observatory "Amiral
Vasile Urseanu"

• built in 1908-1910 ;
• the only public observatory of Bucharest;
• astronomical expositions, observations,
presentations.
 Stavropoleos Church
• Eastern Orthodox monastery for nuns in
central Bucharest, Romania;
• built in 1724 in Brâncovenesc style;
• Byzantine music, expressed through its choir ;
• holds the largest collection of Byzantine music
books in Romania;
• a significant number of old books: more than
80 manuscripts and 400 printed works.
 Snagov Monastery

• an important historical and feudal art

monument;
• situated on the northern island of Snagov
Lake;
• first attested by documents in 1408;
• It is said that Vlad Țepeș was buried here.
 The Bucharest Botanical Garden

• a Botanical Museum in a building of

the Brâncovenesc style;

• more than 5,000 plant species, including 1,000

exotic plants.
 Cișmigiu Garden

• The oldest park in Bucharest;

• Opened to the public in 1860;
• A variety of specific and exotic trees and other
plants;
• Boat rental complex.
 Herăstrău Park

• The Village Museum - an open-air

ethnographic museum showcasing traditional
Romanian village life, containing 272 authentic
peasant farms and houses from all over
Romania;
• a huge marvelous lake ;
• boat rental complex.
 The Old Town
Lipscani

• the most important commercial area of the

city and the whole Wallachia from Middle
Age to the early 19th century;
• home to many art galleries, antique shops
and coffeehouses.
 4 Other Interesting Facts About
Bucharest
1. Bucharest is the 6th largest capital in the EU.
2. Bucharest’s surface transit network, run by “Regia
Autonoma de Transport Bucuresti”, is the fourth-
largest in Europe;
3. Bucharest is twinned with 9 cities around the world.
The most important are Beijing, Atlanta, Budapest
and Hanover.
4. The first road in Bucharest was Wood Road, Victoria
today. Victory Road was paved with tree trunks.
“Ion Creangă” National College

Bucharest, Romania