Bucharest
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Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania. It has appr. 1,8 millions residents. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.
City was first mentioned in written source in 1459, when it became the residence of the famous Prince of Wallachia, Vlad III the Impaler. Wallachia became a suzerain of the Ottoman empire in same century. Bucharest became the permanent location of the Wallachian court after 1698. Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at several intervals by the Habsburg Monarchy (1716, 1737, 1789) and Imperial Russia (three times between 1768 and 1806). It was placed under Russian administration between 1828 and the Crimean War, with an interlude during the Bucharest-centred 1848 Wallachian revolution. Bucharest became the capital of the independent kingdom of Romania in 1881.
In the past the city was known ”Little Paris” and it still an interesting mixture of old and new, and home of multiple beautiful churches.
Shopping
Major brand-name shops and luxurious boutiques are concentrated along the main boulevard from Piaţa Romană to Piaţa Unirii and on the small streets adjacent to that.
Anthony Frost English Bookshop (Calea Victorei 45) offers literature and comics in English. Prices are relatively cheap.
Something to explore
Parliament Palace
This is largest parliament house in the world, locating near Piaţa Unirii Square. The building, which was built in 1984 by Nicolae Ceauşescu, spans 12 stories, 3100 rooms and covers over 330,000 square meters. 1/9 of Bucharest was reconstructed to accommodate this magnificent massive building and its surroundings. There are guided tours in price from 25 RON (15 RON for students, proof required) up to 43 RON.
Cişmigiu Garden
This 17 hectares wide public park in central Bucharest is surrounding the artificial Lake Cișmigiu. The main entrance wides from Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, near the City Hall. Notable attractrions at the park are the circular Rondul Român alley where has erected the stone busts of twelve important Romanian writers, and Monumentul Eroilor Francezi (“The Monument of French Heroes”) dedicated to those French soldiers who died fighting in Romania during the World War I. Very idyllic sight at the urban heart of Bucharest and splendid place for a e.g. piquenique.
Lipscani
The old center of Bucharest, Lipscani, partially survived from the great demolion and deconstruction by Nicolae Ceausescu. Lipscani is known for its cobblestone streets, 19th century architecture and ruins of the Wallachian princes’ medieval court. Area is a popular gathering place and has many comfy cafés and restaurants.
Village Museum
This open-air museum has opened in 1934 and is located in address Şoseaua Kiseleff 28-30. It houses about 300 traditional buildings, such as churches, workshops, mills etc, and various historic artifacts (e.g. clothing, furnitures and tools) gathered from villages in every region of the country. Museum hosts sometimes folklore and traditional crafts festivals. Entry fee 10 RON for adult, 5 RON for student.
How to get around in Bucarest
Metro system in Bucharest has 4 lines ((M1, M2, M3, M4) and it covers the city quite well, being relatively cheap (5 RON for 2 trips, 20 for 10 trips and 70 for a monthly pass).
There is also a network of buses, trams and trolleybuses, which needs some learning and concentration. The map of public transport is visible here (Romanian).
How to get in Bucarest
International flights to Bucharest are mostly concentrated on the Henri Coandă International Airport. List of its airlines and destinations is here. Express bus 783 goes from the airport to downtown Bucharest and Express bus 780 links the airport with the main train station, Bucuresti Nord (Gara de Nord).
Bucharest is linked through direct daily trains to most neighboring countries’ capitals ( Budapest, Chişinău, Kiev, Sofia), as well as to Vienna, Venice, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Moscow and Romanian main cities.
All international trains and most long distance internal trains arrive at Gara de Nord (Northern) station, located quite near of the city center, to which it is linked by subway and several buses, trolley, and tramway lines. Timetables of the national CFR train operator are here.
Eurolines and Atlassib offers bus connections to Bucharest from various European cities. Timetables of domestic buslines are here.
Top 5 in Bucharest
- Strolling in Lipscani
- Cişmigiu Garden
- Parliament Palace
- Piata Unirii Square
- Cotroceni Palace Museum ( Geniului 1)
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: Wikipedia Commons with CC licence / christian_adrian, Stefanjurca, Sanziana Gheorghe, Mastermindsro[/fusion_text]
